Testing Quarkonium Production with Photoproduced $J/\psi + \gamma$

Abstract

I compute the leading color-octet contributions to the process $\gamma + p \to J/\psi + \gamma (+ X)$ within the non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization formalism. In the color-singlet model, $J/\psi + \gamma$ can only be produced when the photon interacts through its structure function, while the color-octet mechanism allows for production of $J/\psi + \gamma$ via direct photon-gluon fusion. Resolved photon processes can be easily be distinguished from direct photon processes by examining the fraction of the incident photon energy carried away by the $J/\psi$ in the event. Therefore, this process provides a conclusive test of the color-octet mechanism. $J/\psi + \gamma$ production is particularly sensitive to the NRQCD matrix element which figures prominently in the fragmentation production of $J/\psi$ at large $p_{\perp}$ in hadron colliders. I also examine the predictions of the color evaporation model (CEM) of quarkonium production and find that this process can easily discriminate between the NRQCD factorization formalism and the CEM.