Central exclusive production of axial-vector $f_{1}$ mesons in proton-proton collisions within the tensor-pomeron approach

TL;DR

This paper models the exclusive production of $f_1$ mesons in proton-proton collisions using the tensor-pomeron approach, providing theoretical predictions and analyzing distribution patterns to aid future experimental verification.

Contribution

It introduces a tensor-pomeron framework for $f_1$ meson production and explores different pomeron-pomeron-$f_1$ couplings, aligning model parameters with experimental data.

Findings

Calculated total cross sections and distributions for $f_1$ production.

Provided predictions for LHC experiments.

Analyzed azimuthal angle distributions to distinguish models.

Abstract

We discuss the central exclusive production of $f_{1}$ mesons in proton-proton collisions. The diffractive pomeron-pomeron fusion process within the tensor-pomeron approach is considered. Two ways to construct the pomeron-pomeron-$f_{1}$ coupling are discussed. The theoretical calculation of coupling constants is a challenging problem of nonperturbative QCD. We adjust the parameters of the model to the WA102 experimental data. The total cross section and differential distributions are presented. Predictions for LHC experiments are given. Detailed analysis of the distributions in $\phi_{pp}$ the azimuthal angle between the transverse momenta of the outgoing protons can help to check different models and to study real pattern of the absorption effects.