Associated vector meson and bound-free electron-positron pair photoproduction in ultraperipheral $PbPb$ collisions

Abstract

In this letter we analyze the associated production of a vector meson with the bound - free $e^+e^-$ process in ultraperipheral $PbPb$ collisions through the double scattering mechanism for the energy of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Such process is characterized by the presence of a meson and a positron in the final state and by a forward hydrogen - like ion with a distinct electric charge. We present our predictions for the total cross sections and rapidity distributions considering the rapidity ranges covered by the ALICE and LHCb detectors, which indicate that a future experimental analysis of the $\phi + e^+$ and $J/\Psi + e^+$ final states is feasible.