Measurement of the Cross-Section for the Process Gamma-Gamma to Proton-Antiproton at sqrt(s_ee) = 183 - 189 GeV with the OPAL Detector at LEP

TL;DR

This paper measures the cross-section of proton-antiproton pair production in photon-photon collisions at LEP energies, comparing results with previous data and theoretical models to enhance understanding of hadronic interactions.

Contribution

It provides new experimental cross-section data for gamma-gamma to proton-antiproton processes at specific energies, testing quark-diquark model predictions.

Findings

Cross-section measurements across 2.15 < W < 3.95 GeV range.

Comparison with previous experimental data.

Agreement with quark-diquark model calculations.

Abstract

The exclusive production of proton-antiproton pairs in the collisions of two quasi-real photons has been studied using data taken at sqrt(s_ee) = 183 GeV and 189 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP. Results are presented for proton-antiproton invariant masses, W, in the range 2.15 < W < 3.95 GeV. The cross-section measurements are compared with previous data and with recent analytic calculations based on the quark-diquark model.