Observation of exclusive charmonium production and $\gamma+\gamma$ to $\mu^+\mu^-$ in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96$ TeV

The CDF collaboration Aaltonen, T. ; Adelman, Jahred A. ; Akimoto, T. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 102 (2009) 242001, 2009.
Inspire Record 812821 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.55758

We have observed the reactions p+pbar --> p+X+pbar, with X being a centrally produced J/psi, psi(2S) or chi_c0, and gamma+gamma --> mu+mu-, in proton- antiproton collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV using the Run II Collider Detector at Fermilab. The event signature requires two oppositely charged muons, each with pseudorapidity |eta| < 0.6, with M(mumu) in [3.0,4.0] GeV/c2, and either no other particles, or one additional photon, detected. The J/psi and the psi(2S) are prominent, on a continuum consistent with the QED process gamma+gamma --> mu+mu-. Events with a J/psi and an associated photon candidate are consistent with exclusive chi_c0 production through double pomeron exchange. The exclusive vector meson production is as expected for elastic photo- production, gamma+p --> J/psi(psi(2S)) + p, which is observed here for the first time in hadron-hadron collisions. The cross sections ds/dy(y=0) for p + pbar --> p + X + pbar with X = J/psi, psi(2S) orchi_c0 are 3.92+/-0.62 nb, 0.53+/-0.14 nb, and 75+/-14 nb respectively. The cross section for the continuum, with |eta(mu+/-)| < 0.6, M(mumu) in [3.0,4.0] GeV/c2, is [Integral ds/(dM.deta1.deta2)] = 2.7+/-0.5 pb, consistent with QED predictions. We put an upper limit on the cross section for odderon exchange in J/psi production: ds/dy(y=0) (J/psi_O/IP) < 2.3 nb at 95% C.L.

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