Photoproduction of $\eta_{c}\gamma$ pairs in CGC framework

TL;DR

This paper investigates the exclusive photoproduction of eta_c gamma pairs within the Color Glass Condensate framework, highlighting its potential for probing the dipole scattering amplitude and implications for odderon studies at high-energy colliders.

Contribution

It introduces the eta_c gamma photoproduction process as a new tool to analyze the dipole scattering amplitude and assesses its experimental feasibility and background effects in odderon searches.

Findings

Cross-section sensitive only to the forward dipole scattering amplitude.

Estimated sizable production rates at LHC and Electron Ion Collider.

Identified significant feed-down contributions from J/psi decays.

Abstract

In this paper we analyzed the exclusive photoproduction of $\eta_{c}\gamma$ pairs in the Color Glass Condensate framework. We found that the cross-section of this process is sensitive only to the forward dipole scattering amplitude, and thus could be used as a new tool for analysis of this fundamental nonperturbative object. Using the phenomenological parametrizations of this object, we estimated numerically the production cross-section and counting rates in the kinematics of the ongoing and forthcoming experiments at LHC and future Electron Ion Collider. We found that the cross-section is sufficiently large for dedicated experimental study. We also estimated the role of this process as a potential background to $\eta_{c}$ photoproduction, which is conventionally considered as a gateway for studies of odderons. We found that the contribution of $\eta_{c}\gamma$ (with undetected photon) is on par with expected contributions of odderons in the kinematics of small momentum transfer $|t|\lesssim1$ GeV$^{2}$, though decreases rapidly at larger $|t|$. Finally, we also calculated the feed-down contribution (from radiative decays of other charmonia) and found that a sizable correction comes from $J/\psi\to\eta_{c}\gamma$ decays. This contribution remains pronounced even at relatively large $|t|$ and potentially can impose constraint on detectability of odderons via $\eta_{c}$ photoproduction.