Exclusive production of vector mesons in $\gamma p$ and $p p$ collisions

Abstract

The dominant mechanism for the central exclusive production of vector meson in $p p$ and $p \bar p$ collisions is the $\gamma$ $I P$ fusion. As a building block for the pp reaction, the amplitude for photoproduction $ \gamma p \to V p $ is calculated in a pQCD $k_{T}$- factorization approach. We will present results for several vector mesons: $\rho$, $\omega$, $\phi$, $J/\Psi$ and $\Upsilon$. The total cross section for diffractive mesons production as a function of energy and photon virtuality is calculated. We will present dependence on the mass of the quark for light mesons. The results for $ \gamma p \to V p $ photoproduction depend on the model of the meson wave function. We compare our results with a HERA data for photon-proton collisions. Finally we turn to pp collisions, and we present distribution in rapidity, transverse momentum of vector mesons and azimuthal angle between outgoing protons for Tevatron and LHC energies. The absorption effects will be discussed.