Glueball enhancements in p(gamma,VV)p through vector meson dominance

Abstract

Double vector meson photoproduction, p(gamma, G -> VV)p, mediated by a scalar glueball G is investigated. Using vector meson dominance (VMD) and Regge/pomeron phenomenology, a measureable glueball enhancement is predicted in the invariant VV = rho rho and omega omega mass spectra. The scalar glueball is assumed to be the lightest physical state on the daughter pomeron trajectory governing diffractive vector meson photoproduction. In addition to cross sections, calculations for hadronic and electromagnetic glueball decays, G -> V V' (V,V'= rho, omega, phi, gamma), and gamma_v V -> G transition form factors are presented based upon flavor universality, VMD and phenomenological couplings from phi photoproduction analyses. The predicted glueball decay widths are similar to an independent theoretical study. A novel signature for glueball detection is also discussed.