Central exclusive production of $K^{+}K^{-}$ pairs in proton-proton collisions

Abstract

We discuss central exclusive diffractive production of light mesons in the reactions $pp \to pp\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ and $pp \to ppK^{+}K^{-}$. The calculation is based on a tensor-pomeron approach. We include a purely diffractive dipion continuum, and the scalar $f_{0}(980)$, $f_{0}(1500)$, $f_{0}(1710)$ and tensor $f_{2}(1270)$, $f'_{2}(1525)$ resonances decaying into pseudoscalar meson pairs. We include also photoproduction mechanisms for the nonresonant (Drell-S\"oding) and the $\phi(1020)$ resonance contributions. The theoretical results are compared with existing CDF experimental data and predictions for being carried out LHC experiments are presented. The distributions in dimeson invariant mass and in a special "glueball filter variable" including the interference effects of resonance and dimeson continuum are presented.