Study of central exclusive $\pi^+\pi^-$ production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 5.02 and 13 TeV

The collaboration
Eur.Phys.J.C 80 (2020) 718, 2020.

Abstract (data abstract)
Central exclusive and semiexclusive production of pi+pi- pairs is measured with the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at the LHC at center-of-mass energies of 5.02 and 13 TeV. The theoretical description of these nonperturbative processes, which have not yet been measured in detail at the LHC, poses a significant challenge to models. The two pions are measured and identified in the CMS silicon tracker based on specific energy loss, whereas the absence of other particles is ensured by calorimeter information. The total and differential cross sections of exclusive and semiexclusive central pi+pi- production are measured as functions of invariant mass, transverse momentum, and rapidity of the pi+pi- system in the fiducial region defined as transverse momentum pT(pi) > 0.2 GeV and pseudorapidity |eta(pi)| < 2.4. The production cross sections for the four resonant channels f0(500), rho0(770), f0(980), and f2(1270) are extracted using a simple model. These results represent the first measurement of this process at the LHC collision energies of 5.02 and 13 TeV.

• #### Figure 5a

Data from Figure 5 (top left), located on page 10.

10.17182/hepdata.100551.v1/t1

Differential cross section as a function of the invariant mass of the pion pair at 5.02 TeV, compared with generator-level...

• #### Figure 5b

Data from Figure 5 (top right), located on page 10.

10.17182/hepdata.100551.v1/t2

Differential cross section as a function of the invariant mass of the pion pair at 13 TeV, compared with generator-level...

• #### Figure 5c

Data from Figure 5 (middle left), located on page 10.

10.17182/hepdata.100551.v1/t3

Differential cross section as a function of the transverse momentum of the pion pair at 5.02 TeV, compared with generator-level...

• #### Figure 5d

Data from Figure 5 (middle right), located on page 10.

10.17182/hepdata.100551.v1/t4

Differential cross section as a function of the transverse momentum of the pion pair at 13 TeV, compared with generator-level...

• #### Figure 5e

Data from Figure 5 (bottom left), located on page 10.

10.17182/hepdata.100551.v1/t5

Differential cross section as a function of the rapidity of the pion pair at 5.02 TeV, compared with generator-level simulations.

• #### Figure 5f

Data from Figure 5 (bottom right), located on page 10.

10.17182/hepdata.100551.v1/t6

Differential cross section as a function of the rapidity of the pion pair at 13 TeV, compared with generator-level simulations.