Predictions of the Generalized Glauber Model for the coherent $\rho$-production at RHIC and the STAR data

Abstract

We calculate the rapidity distribution and the total cross section of coherent and incoherent $\rho$-production in the heavy ion ultraperipheral collisions (UPC) at $\surd s_{NN}=130$ GeV using the generalized vector dominance model(GVDM) and the Gribov- Glauber approach. We find the coherent cross section of $\rho $-production $\sigma_{coh}=490$ mb compared to the $\sigma_{coh}=370\pm 170\pm 80$ mb recently reported by the STAR collaboration at RHIC. The predicted cross section inside the acceptance of the experiment, $|y|\le 1$, agrees with the data. It is emphasized that measurements of the rapidity distribution will provide a much more stringent test of the model.