Search

This report summarizes the work of the EMMI Rapid Reaction Task Force on "Real and Virtual Photon Production at Ultra-Low Transverse Momentum and Low Mass at the LHC". We provide an overview of the soft-photon puzzle, i.e., of the long-standing discrepancy between experimental data and predictions based on Low's soft-photon theorem, also referred to as "anomalous" soft photon production, and we review the current theoretical understanding of soft radiation and soft theorems. We also focus on low-mass dileptons as a tool for determining the electrical conductivity of the medium produced in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions. We discuss how both topics can be addressed with the planned ALICE 3 detector at the LHC., Comment: 63 pages, 20 figures

We discuss the diffractive bremsstrahlung of a single photon in the $pp \to pp \gamma$ reaction at LHC energies and at forward photon rapidities. We compare the results for our standard approach, based on QFT and the tensor-Pomeron model, with two versions of soft-photon approximations, SPA1 and SPA2, where the radiative amplitudes contain only the leading terms proportional to $\omega^{-1}$ (the inverse of the photon energy). SPA1, which does not have the correct energy-momentum relations, performs surprisingly well in the kinematic range considered, namely at very forward photon rapidities and $0.02 < \xi_{1,2} < 0.1$, the relative energy loss of the protons, corresponding to small values of the photon transverse momentum. Azimuthal correlations between outgoing particles are presented. We discuss also the role of the $p p \to p p \pi^0$ background for single photon production. We discuss also the possibility of a measurement of the $pp \to pp \gamma \gamma$ reaction. Our predictions can be verified by ATLAS-LHCf combined experiments., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, presented by A. Szczurek at XXX Cracow EPIPHANY Conference on Precision Physics at High Energy Colliders, Krakow, Poland, January 8-12, 2024

We investigate the photon emission in pion-pion and pion-proton scattering in the soft-photon limit where the photon energy $\omega \to 0$. The expansions of the $\pi^{-} \pi^{0} \to \pi^{-} \pi^{0} \gamma$ and the $\pi^{\pm} p \to \pi^{\pm} p \gamma$ amplitudes, satisfying the energy-momentum relations, to the orders $\omega^{-1}$ and $\omega^{0}$ are derived. We show that these terms can be expressed completely in terms of the on-shell amplitudes for $\pi^{-} \pi^{0} \to \pi^{-} \pi^{0}$ and $\pi^{\pm} p \to \pi^{\pm} p$, respectively, and their partial derivatives with respect to $s$ and $t$. The~structure term which is non singular for $\omega \to 0$ is determined to the order $\omega^{0}$ from the gauge-invariance constraint using the generalized Ward identities for pions and the proton. For the reaction $\pi^{-} \pi^{0} \to \pi^{-} \pi^{0} \gamma$ we discuss in detail the soft-photon theorems in the versions of both F.E. Low and S. Weinberg. We show that these two versions are different and must not be confounded. Weinberg's version gives the pole term of a Laurent expansion in $\omega$ of the amplitude for $\pi^{-} \pi^{0} \to \pi^{-} \pi^{0} \gamma$ around the phase-space point of zero radiation. Low's version gives an approximate expression for the above amplitude at a fixed phase-space point, corresponding to non-zero radiation. Clearly, the leading and next-to-leading terms in theses two approaches must be, and are indeed, different. We show their relation. We also discuss the expansions of differential cross sections for $\pi^{-} \pi^{0} \to \pi^{-} \pi^{0} \gamma$ with respect to $\omega$ for $\omega \to 0$., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure, v2 contains extended discussion on different versions of soft-photon theorems and added references, v3 is equivalent to the PRD version

We discuss the reactions $\pi p \to \pi p$ and $\pi p \to \pi p \gamma$ from a general quantum field theory (QFT) point of view, describing these reactions in QCD and lowest relevant order of electromagnetism. We consider the pion-proton elastic scattering both off shell and on shell. The on-shell amplitudes for $\pi^{\pm} p \to \pi^{\pm} p$ scattering are described by two invariant amplitudes, while the off-shell amplitudes contain eight invariant amplitudes. We study the photon emission amplitudes in the soft-photon limit where the c.m. photon energy $\omega \to 0$. The Laurent expansion in $\omega$ of the $\pi^{\pm} p \to \pi^{\pm} p \gamma$ amplitudes is considered and the terms of the orders $\omega^{-1}$ and $\omega^{0}$ are derived. These terms can be expressed by the on-shell invariant amplitudes and their partial derivatives with respect to $s$ and $t$. The pole term $\propto \omega^{-1}$ in the amplitudes corresponds to Weinberg's soft-photon theorem and is well known from the literature. We derive the next-to-leading term $\propto \omega^{0}$ using only rigorous methods of QFT. We give the relation of the Laurent series for $\pi^{0} p \to \pi^{0} p \gamma$ and Low's soft-photon theorem. Our formulas for the amplitudes in the limit $\omega \to 0$ are valid for photon momentum $k$ satisfying $k^{2} \geqslant 0$, $k^{0} = \omega \geqslant 0$, that is, for both real and virtual photons. Here we consider a limit where with $\omega \to 0$ we have also $k^{2} \to 0$. We discuss the behavior of the corresponding cross-sections for $\pi^{-} p \to \pi^{-} p \gamma$ with respect to $\omega$ for $\omega \to 0$. We consider cross sections for unpolarized as well as polarized protons in the initial and final states., Comment: 36 pages, 5 figures, v3 accepted for publication in PRD

The two-tensor-pomeron model is applied to deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) on a proton. A good description of the DVCS HERA data at small Bjorken-$x$ is achieved due to a sizeable interference of soft and hard pomeron contributions. We present two fits which differ somewhat in the strength of the hard pomeron contribution. We describe, in the same framework, both the low $Q^{2}$ and high $Q^{2}$ regimes and the transition between them. We find that the soft-pomeron contribution is considerable up to $Q^{2} \sim 20$ GeV$^{2}$. The reggeon exchange term is particularly relevant for describing the scattering of a real photon on a proton measured at lower $\gamma p$ energies at FNAL. We find that the ratio of $\gamma^{*} p \to \gamma p$ cross-sections for longitudinally and transversely polarized virtual photons strongly increases with $t$. Our findings may be checked in future lepton-nucleon scattering experiments in the low-$x$ regime, for instance, at a future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at the BNL and LHeC at the LHC., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, presented by Piotr Lebiedowicz at XXIX Cracow Epiphany Conference on Physics at the Electron-Ion Collider and Future Facilities, Krakow, Poland, January 16-19, 2023

We evaluate the cross section for diffractive bremsstrahlung of a single photon in the $pp \to pp \gamma$ reaction at high energies and at forward photon rapidities. Several differential distributions, for instance, in $y$, $k_{\perp}$ and $\omega$, the rapidity, the absolute value of the transverse momentum, and the energy of the photon, respectively, are presented. We compare the results for our standard approach, based on QFT and the tensor-pomeron model, with two versions of soft-photon-approximations, SPA1 and SPA2, where the radiative amplitudes contain only the leading terms proportional to $\omega^{-1}$. The SPA1, which does not have the correct energy-momentum relations, performs surprisingly well in the kinematic range considered. We discuss also azimuthal correlations between outgoing particles. The azimuthal distributions are not isotropic and are different for our standard model and SPAs. We discuss also the possibility of a measurement of two-photon-bremsstrahlung in the $pp \to pp \gamma \gamma$ reaction. In our calculations we impose a cut on the relative energy loss ($0.02 < \xi_{i} < 0.1$, $i = 1,2$) of the protons where measurements by the ATLAS Forward Proton (AFP) detectors are possible. The AFP requirement for both diffractively scattered protons and one forward photon (measured at LHCf) reduces the cross section for $p p \to p p \gamma$ almost to zero. On the other hand, much less cross-section reduction occurs for $pp \to pp \gamma \gamma$ when photons are emitted in opposite sides of the ATLAS interaction point and can be measured by two different arms of LHCf. For the SPA1 ansatz we find $\sigma(pp \to pp \gamma \gamma) \simeq 0.03$ nb at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV and with the cuts $0.02 < \xi_{i} < 0.1$, $8.5 < y_{3} < 9$, $-9 < y_{4} < -8.5$. Our predictions can be verified by ATLAS and LHCf combined experiments., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures. In v2 we discussed the role of the $p p \to p p \pi^0$ background for single photon production

We discuss central-exclusive production (CEP) of photons via different fusion processes in the reaction $pp \to pp \gamma$ at high energies, available at RHIC and LHC, within the tensor-pomeron model. We consider two types of processes, the photoproduction contribution via the photon-pomeron and photon-reggeon fusion reactions, and the purely diffractive contribution via the reggeon-pomeron and odderon-pomeron fusion reactions. We present predictions for the measurements of photons at midrapidity, $|{\rm y}| < 2.5$, and at relatively low transverse momentum, $0.1~{\rm GeV} < k_{\perp} < 1~{\rm GeV}$. To check the main results of our study the measurement of the outgoing protons is not necessary. This is of relevance, e.g., for the present version of the ALICE detector at the LHC. Several differential distributions, for instance, in ${\rm y}$, $k_{\perp}$ and $\omega$, the rapidity, the absolute value of the transverse momentum, and the energy of the photon, respectively, are presented. We show that the photoproduction is an important process in the kinematic region specified above. There it gives a much larger cross section than diffractive bremsstrahlung. This is remarkable as the CEP cross section is of order $\alpha_{\rm em}^{3}$ whereas the bremsstrahlung one is only of order $\alpha_{\rm em}$. On the other hand, the soft-photon bremsstrahlung where the basic $pp \to pp$ reaction is due to strong interaction diffraction is more important than CEP in the forward rapidity range, $|{\rm y}| > 4$, and/or at very low $k_{\perp}$. We leave it as a challenge for the planned ALICE 3 experiment at the LHC to study these two contributions to soft photon production in $pp$ collisions. This could shed new light on the so called ``soft photon puzzle'' in hadron-hadron collisions., Comment: 27 pages, 13 figures

The two-tensor-pomeron model proposed previously to describe low $x$ DIS data is applied to real and virtual Compton scattering on a proton. The model includes two tensor pomerons, a soft and a hard one, and tensor reggeons. We include contributions of both transverse and longitudinal virtual photons. We show that this model gives a very good description of experimental data at small Bjorken $x$ on deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) from HERA. The reggeon exchange term is particularly relevant for describing the real-photon-proton scattering measured at lower $\gamma p$ energies at FNAL. We present two fits which differ somewhat in the strength of the hard pomeron contribution. In both fits we find that the interference between soft- and hard-pomeron exchange plays an important role. We find that in DVCS the soft-pomeron contribution is considerable up to $Q^{2} \sim 20$ GeV$^{2}$. Our model allows to study the transition from the small-$Q^{2}$ regime, including the photoproduction ($Q^{2} = 0$) limit, to the large-$Q^{2}$ regime, the DIS limit. We also discuss the ratio of cross sections for longitudinally and transversely polarized virtual photons in $\gamma^{*} p \to \gamma p$ as a function of $|t|$ and $Q^2$. The ratio $\tilde{R}(Q^{2},W^{2},t) = (d\sigma_{\rm L} / dt) / (d\sigma_{\rm T} / dt)$ strongly increases with $t$. Our findings may be checked in future lepton-nucleon scattering experiments in the low-$x$ regime, for instance, at a future Electron-Ion Collider at the BNL (EIC), and, if LHeC is realized, at the LHC., Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures

We discuss diffractive processes in proton-proton collisions at small momentum transfers without and with photon radiation. We consider the soft exclusive reactions $pp \to pp$, $p\bar{p} \to p\bar{p}$, and $pp \to pp \gamma$ within the tensor-pomeron and vector-odderon approach. We compare our results with the data for $pp$ and $p\bar{p}$ total cross sections, for the ratio of real to imaginary part of the forward scattering amplitude, and for the elastic $pp$ cross sections, especially those from TOTEM. To describe the low-energy data more accurately the secondary reggeons must be included. We write down the amplitudes for the photon bremsstrahlung in high-energy proton-proton collisions using the tensor-pomeron model. These results are relevant for the c.m. energies presently available at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and at the LHC. We present predictions for the proposed measurements of soft photons with the planned future upgrade of the ALICE experiment at the LHC. We investigate the limits of applicability of the soft-photon approximation (SPA) based on Low's theorem. The corresponding SPA results are compared to those obtained from our complete model. The regions of phase space are given quantitatively where SPA and our complete tensor-pomeron results are close to each other. As an example, let $k_{\perp}$, $\rm y$, and $\omega$, be the absolute value of the transverse momentum, the rapidity, and the energy of the photon, respectively, in the overall c.m. system. For the region $1 \; {\rm MeV} < k_{\perp} < 100 \; {\rm MeV}$ and $3.5 < |\rm y| < 5.0$, we find that the SPA Ansatz with only the pole terms $\propto \omega^{-1}$ agrees at the percent level with our complete model result up to $\omega \cong 2$ GeV., Comment: 44 pages, 18 figures, Comments on the photon radiation in connection with diffractive excitation of the proton were added

We discuss the central exclusive production of $f_{1}$ mesons in proton-proton collisions. The diffractive pomeron-pomeron fusion process within the tensor-pomeron approach is considered. Two ways to construct the pomeron-pomeron-$f_{1}$ coupling are discussed. The theoretical calculation of coupling constants is a challenging problem of nonperturbative QCD. We adjust the parameters of the model to the WA102 experimental data. The total cross section and differential distributions are presented. Predictions for LHC experiments are given. Detailed analysis of the distributions in $\phi_{pp}$ the azimuthal angle between the transverse momenta of the outgoing protons can help to check different models and to study real pattern of the absorption effects., Comment: 11 pages, Submission to SciPost, presented at XXXIII International (ONLINE) Workshop on High Energy Physics "Hard Problems of Hadron Physics: Non-Perturbative QCD & Related Quests", November 8-12, 2021. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2107.13940

The exclusive reaction $pp \to pp (K^{*0} \bar{K}^{*0} \to K^{+}\pi^{-}K^{-}\pi^{+})$ for the LHC experiments is discussed. The amplitudes for the reaction are formulated within the tensor-pomeron approach. We consider two diffractive mechanisms: the $f_{2}(1950)$ $s$-channel exchange mechanism and the $K^{*0}$-exchange mechanism. First mechanism is a candidate for central diffractive production of tensor glueball and the second one is an irreducible continuum. Comparison with data from WA102 experiment are made and predictions for LHC experiments are given. We find that including the continuum contribution alone one can describe the WA102 data reasonably well. A similar behaviour of the continuum and resonance contributions makes an identification of a broad tensor-glueball state in this reaction rather difficult., Comment: presented at EPS-HEP2021, 26-30 July 2021

Exclusive production of axial-vector $f_{1}(1285)$ meson in proton-proton collisions via pomeron-pomeron fusion within the tensor-pomeron approach is discussed. Two ways to construct the pomeron-pomeron-$f_{1}$ coupling are presented. We adjust the parameters of our model to the WA102 experimental data and compare with predictions of the Sakai-Sugimoto model. Predictions for LHC experiments are given., Comment: Submission to SciPost, presented by P. Lebiedowicz at XXVIII International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects, Stony Brook University, New York, USA, 12-16 April 2021, Virtual Conference

We discuss the processes $\pi \pi \to \pi \pi$ and $\pi \pi \to \pi \pi \gamma$ from a general quantum field theory (QFT) point of view. We study the soft-photon limit where the photon energy $\omega \to 0$ and where we have the theorems due to F.E. Low and S. Weinberg. We consider for the radiative amplitude the Laurent expansion in $\omega$ and calculate the terms of order $\omega^{-1}$ and $\omega^{0}$. The pole term $\propto \omega^{-1}$ is given by Weinberg's soft-photon theorem. Then we calculate the amplitudes for the above reactions for high center-of-mass energies and small momentum transfers, that is, in the soft-diffraction regime using the tensor-pomeron model. We identify places where "anomalous" soft photons could come from. Three soft-photon approximations (SPAs) are introduced. The corresponding SPA results are compared to those obtained from the full tensor-pomeron model for center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s} = 10$ GeV and 100 GeV. The kinematic regions where the SPAs are a good representation of the full amplitude are determined. Finally we make some remarks on the type of fundamental information one could obtain from high-energy exclusive hadronic reactions without and with soft photon radiation., Comment: 57 pages, 20 figures, v3 is a final version including corrections from the published Erratum

We evaluate the cross section for the $p p \to p p f_{1}(1285)$ and $p \bar{p} \to p \bar{p} f_{1}(1285)$ reactions at near threshold energies relevant for the HADES and PANDA experiments at GSI-FAIR. We assume that at energies close to the threshold the $\omega \omega \to f_{1}(1285)$ and $\rho^{0} \rho^{0} \to f_{1}(1285)$ fusion processes are the dominant production mechanisms. The vertex for the $VV \to f_{1}$ coupling is derived from an effective coupling Lagrangian. The $g_{\rho \rho f_1}$ coupling constant is extracted from the decay rate of $f_{1}(1285) \to \rho^{0} \gamma$ using the vector-meson-dominance ansatz. We assume $g_{\omega \omega f_1} = g_{\rho \rho f_1}$, equality of these two coupling constants, based on arguments from the naive quark model and vector-meson dominance. The amplitude for the $VV \to f_{1}$ fusion, supplemented by phenomenological vertex form factors for the process, is given. The differential cross sections at energies close to the threshold are calculated. In order to determine the parameters of the model the $\gamma p \to f_{1}(1285) p$ reaction is discussed in addition and results are compared with the CLAS data. The possibility of a measurement by HADES@GSI is presented and discussed. We performed a Monte Carlo feasibility simulations of the $p p \to p p f_1$ reaction for $\sqrt{s}$ = 3.46 GeV in the $\pi^+ \pi^- \pi^+ \pi^-$ (not shown explicitly) and $\pi^+ \pi^- \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^0$ final states using the PLUTO generator. The latter one is especially promising as a peak in the $\pi^+ \pi^- \eta$ should be observable by HADES., Comment: 40 pages, 15 figures

We present first predictions of the cross sections and differential distributions for the exclusive reaction $pp \to pp K^{*0} \bar{K}^{*0}$ contributing to the $K^{+} K^{-} \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ channel. The amplitudes for the reaction are formulated within the nonperturbative tensor-pomeron approach. We consider separately the $f_{2}(1950)$ $s$-channel exchange mechanism and the $K^{*0}$ $t/u$-channel exchange mechanism, focusing on their specificities. First mechanism is a candidate for the central diffractive production of tensor glueball and the second one is an irreducible continuum. We adjust parameters of our model, assuming the dominance of pomeron-pomeron fusion, to the WA102 experimental data. We find that including the continuum contribution alone one can describe the WA102 data reasonably well. We present predictions for the reaction $pp \to pp (K^{*0} \bar{K}^{*0} \to K^{+} K^{-} \pi^{+} \pi^{-})$ for the ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb experiments including typical kinematical cuts. We find from our model a cross sections of $\sigma \cong 17-250$ nb for the LHC experiments, depending on the assumed cuts. Absorption effects are included in our analysis., Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures

The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Darmstadt, Germany, provides unique possibilities for a new generation of hadron-, nuclear- and atomic physics experiments. The future antiProton ANnihilations at DArmstadt (PANDA or $\overline{\rm P}$ANDA) experiment at FAIR will offer a broad physics programme, covering different aspects of the strong interaction. Understanding the latter in the non-perturbative regime remains one of the greatest challenges in contemporary physics. The antiproton-nucleon interaction studied with PANDA provides crucial tests in this area. Furthermore, the high-intensity, low-energy domain of PANDA allows for searches for physics beyond the Standard Model, e.g. through high precision symmetry tests. This paper takes into account a staged approach for the detector setup and for the delivered luminosity from the accelerator. The available detector setup at the time of the delivery of the first antiproton beams in the HESR storage ring is referred to as the \textit{Phase One} setup. The physics programme that is achievable during Phase One is outlined in this paper., Comment: 35 pages, 15 figures

The production of $f_{1}$ ($J^{PC} = 1^{++}$) mesons in proton-proton collisions via pomeron-pomeron fusion is discussed. Two ways to construct the pomeron-pomeron-$f_{1}$ coupling are presented. Comparisons with data from the WA102 experiment are made and predictions for RHIC and LHC experiments are given., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of The 40th International Conference on High Energy physics - ICHEP2020, July 28 - August 6, 2020, Prague, Czech Republic (virtual meeting)

The cross section for inclusive production of $f_2(1270)$ meson is calculated. We include both the mechanism of gluon-gluon fusion as well as the $\pi \pi$ final-state rescattering. The contribution of the gluon-gluon fusion is calculated within the $k_t$-factorization approach with modern unintegrated gluon distribution functions (UGDFs). Some parameters for the $g^* g^* \to f_2$ vertex are extracted from the $\gamma \gamma \to f_2(1270) \to \pi \pi$ reactions. The results strongly depend on the parametrization of the $g^* g^* \to f_2(1270)$ form factor. Results of our model are compared to the ALICE preliminary data. The gluon-gluon fusion does not explain low-$p_t$ data but could be the dominant mechanism at somewhat larger meson transverse momenta. By adjusting some parameters the pion-pion rescattering can explain the low-$p_t$ region., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of The 40th International Conference on High Energy physics - ICHEP2020, July 28 - August 6, 2020, Prague, Czech Republic (virtual meeting)

The possibility to use the exclusive $pp \to pp \phi$ and $pp \to pp \phi \phi$ reactions in identifying the odderon exchange is discussed. So far there is no unambiguous experimental evidence for the odderon, the charge conjugation $C = -1$ counterpart of the $C = +1$ pomeron. Recently proposed tensor-pomeron and vector-odderon model for soft high-energy reactions is applied. For the $p p \to p p \phi$ reaction at high energies the photon-pomeron fusion is the dominant process and the odderon-pomeron fusion is an interesting alternative. Adding odderon exchange improves considerably description of the proton-proton angular correlations measured by the WA102 collaboration. The $p p \to p p \phi \phi$ process via pomeron-pomeron fusion is advantageous one as here the odderon does not couple to protons. The observation of large $M_{\phi \phi}$ and the rapidity difference $Y_{\phi \phi}$ seems well suited to identify odderon exchange. Comparisons with data from the WA102 experiment are made and predictions for LHC experiments are given., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, a talk presented by P. Lebiedowicz at 40th International Conference on High Energy physics - ICHEP2020, July 28 - August 6, 2020, Prague, Czech Republic (virtual meeting). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2004.05938

Recently, there is a need for a general-purpose event generator of decays of an elementary particle or a hadron to a state of higher multiplicity ($N > 2$) that is simple to use and universal. We present the structure of such a library to produce generators that generate kinematics of decay processes and can be used to integrate any matrix element squared over phase space of this decay. Some test examples are presented, and results are compared with results known from the literature. As one of examples we consider the Standard Model Higgs boson decay into four leptons. The generators discussed here are compatible with the ROOT interface., Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures

We present a study of the central exclusive diffractive production of the $f_{1}(1285)$ and $f_{1}(1420)$ resonances in proton-proton collisions. The theoretical results are calculated within the tensor-pomeron approach. Two pomeron-pomeron-$f_{1}$ tensorial couplings labeled by $(l,S) = (2,2)$ and $(4,4)$ are derived. We adjust the model parameters (coupling constants, cutoff constant) to the WA102 experimental data taking into account absorption effects. Both the $(l,S) = (2,2)$ and $(4,4)$ couplings separately allow one to describe the WA102 differential distributions. We compare these predictions with those of the Sakai-Sugimoto model, where the pomeron-pomeron-$f_{1}$ couplings are determined by the mixed axial-gravitational anomaly of QCD. We derive an approximate relation between the pomeron-pomeron-$f_{1}$ coupling constants of this approach and the $(l,S) = (2,2)$ and $(4,4)$ couplings. Then we present our predictions for the energies available at the RHIC and LHC. The total cross sections and several differential distributions are presented. Analysis of the distributions in the azimuthal angle $\phi_{pp}$ between the transverse momenta of the outgoing protons may be used to disentangle $f_{1}$- and $\eta$-type resonances contributing to the same final channel. We find for the $f_{1}(1285)$ a total cross section $\sim 38$ $\mu$b for $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV and a rapidity cut on the $f_{1}$ of $|{\rm y_{M}}| < 2.5$. We predict a much larger cross section for production of $f_{1}(1285)$ than for production of $f_{2}(1270)$ in the $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ decay channel for the LHC energies. This opens a possibility to study the $f_{1}(1285)$ meson in experiments planned at the LHC., Comment: 47 pages, 13 figures

We calculate inclusive cross section for $f_2(1270)$ tensor meson production via color singlet gluon-gluon fusion in the $k_t$-factorization approach with unintegrated gluon distribution functions (UGDFs). The process may be potentially interesting in the context of searches for saturation effects. The energy-momentum tensor, equivalent to helicity-2 coupling, and helicity-0 coupling are used for the $g^* g^* \to f_2(1270)$ vertex. Two somewhat different parametrizations of helicity-2 and helicity-0 tensorial structure from the literature are used in our calculations. Some parameters are extracted from $\gamma \gamma \to f_2(1270) \to \pi \pi$ reactions. Different modern UGDFs from the literature are used. The results strongly depend on the parametrization of the $g^* g^* \to f_2(1270)$ form factor. Our results for transverse momentum distributions of $f_2$ are compared to preliminary ALICE data. We can obtain agreement with the data only at larger $f_2(1270)$ transverse momenta only for some parametrizations of the $g^* g^* \to f_2(1270)$ form factor. No obvious sign of the onset of saturation is possible. At low transverse momenta one needs to include also the $\pi\pi$ final-state rescattering. The agreement with the ALICE data can be obtained by adjusting probability of formation and survival of $f_2(1270)$ in a harsh quark-gluon and multipion environment. The pomeron-pomeron fusion mechanism is discussed in addition and results are quantified., Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, second version contains important modifications with respect to the first one, two references were added

There seem to be recently an evidence for $C = -1$ odderon exchange in proton-proton elastic scattering at high energies. Here we discuss three different central-exclusive-production processes $pp \to pp (\phi \to K^{+}K^{-})$, $pp \to pp (\phi \to \mu^{+}\mu^{-})$, and $pp \to pp \phi \phi \to pp K^{+}K^{-}K^{+}K^{-}$, as a possible source of information for soft odderon exchange. The theoretical results are calculated within the tensor-pomeron and vector-odderon model for soft reactions. We include absorptive corrections at the amplitude level. To describe the low-energy data measured in the past by the WA102 collaboration we consider also subleading processes with reggeized vector-meson exchanges and reggeons. We discuss possible evidences for odderon exchange at the low energies and try to make predictions at the LHC., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, a talk presented at the XXVI Cracow EPIPHANY Conference, LHC Physics: Standard Model and Beyond, 7-10 January 2020

The production of the $f_{0}(980)$ meson at high energies is not well understood. We investigate two different potential mechanisms for inclusive scalar meson production in the $k_t$-factorization approach: color-singlet gluon-gluon fusion and color evaporation model. The $\gamma^* \gamma^* \to f_0(980)$ form factor(s) can be constraint from the $f_0(980)$ radiative decay width. The $g^* g^* \to f_0(980)$ form factors are obtained by a replacement of $\alpha_{\rm{em}}$ electromagnetic coupling constant by $\alpha_{\rm{s}}$ strong coupling constant and appropriate color factors. The form factors for the two couplings are parametrized with a function motivated by recent results for scalar quarkonia. The differential cross sections are calculated in the $k_t$-factorization approach with modern unintegrated gluon distributions. Unlike for quarkonia it seems rather difficult to describe a preliminary ALICE data for inclusive production of $f_0(980)$ exclusively by the color singlet gluon-gluon fusion mechanism. Two different scenarios for flavor structure of $f_0(980)$ are considered in this context. We consider also mechanism of fusion of quark-antiquark associated with soft gluon emission in a phenomenological color evaporation model (CEM) used sometimes for quarkonium production. Here we use $k_t$-factorization version of CEM to include higher-order contributions. In addition, for comparison we consider also NLO collinear approach with $q \bar{q} q$ and $q \bar{q} g$ color octet partonic final states. Both approaches lead to a similar result. However, very large probabilities are required to describe the preliminary ALICE data. The pomeron-pomeron fusion mechanism is also discussed and results are quantified., Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures

PANDA (anti-Proton ANnihiliation at DArmstadt) is planned to be one of the four main experiments at the future international accelerator complex FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) in Darmstadt, Germany. It is going to address fundamental questions of hadron physics and quantum chromodynamics using cooled antiproton beams with a high intensity and and momenta between 1.5 and 15 GeV/c. PANDA is designed to reach a maximum luminosity of 2x10^32 cm^2 s. Most of the physics programs require an excellent particle identification (PID). The PID of hadronic states at the forward endcap of the target spectrometer will be done by a fast and compact Cherenkov detector that uses the detection of internally reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) principle. It is designed to cover the polar angle range from 5{\deg} to 22{\deg} and to provide a separation power for the separation of charged pions and kaons up to 3 standard deviations (s.d.) for particle momenta up to 4 GeV/c in order to cover the important particle phase space. This document describes the technical design and the expected performance of the novel PANDA Disc DIRC detector that has not been used in any other high energy physics experiment (HEP) before. The performance has been studied with Monte-Carlo simulations and various beam tests at DESY and CERN. The final design meets all PANDA requirements and guarantees suffcient safety margins., Comment: TDR for Panda/Fair to be published

We explore the possibility of observing odderon exchange in the $pp \to pp K^{+}K^{-}$ and $pp \to pp \mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ reactions at the LHC. We consider the central exclusive production (CEP) of the $\phi(1020)$ resonance decaying into $K^{+} K^{-}$ and $\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$. We compare the purely diffractive contribution (odderon-pomeron fusion) to the photoproduction contribution (photon-pomeron fusion). The theoretical results are calculated within the tensor-pomeron and vector-odderon model for soft reactions. We include absorptive corrections at the amplitude level. In order to fix the coupling constants for the photon-pomeron fusion contribution we discuss the reactions $\gamma p \to \omega p$ and $\gamma p \to \phi p$ including $\phi$-$\omega$ mixing. We compare our results for these reactions with the available data, especially those from HERA. Our coupling constants for the pomeron-odderon-$\phi$ vertex are taken from an analysis of the WA102 data for the $p p \to p p \phi$ reaction. We show that the odderon-exchange contribution significantly improves the description of the $pp$ azimuthal correlations and the $dP_{t}$ "glueball-filter variable" dependence of $\phi$ CEP measured by WA102. To describe the low-energy data more accurately we consider also subleading processes with reggeized vector-meson exchanges. However, they do not play a significant role at the LHC. We present predictions for two possible types of measurements: at midrapidity and with forward measurement of protons (relevant for ATLAS-ALFA or CMS-TOTEM), and at forward rapidities and without measurement of protons (relevant for LHCb). We discuss the influence of experimental cuts on the integrated cross sections and on various differential distributions. With the corresponding LHC data one should be able to get a decisive answer concerning the presence of an odderon-pomeron fusion contribution in single $\phi$ CEP., Comment: 63 pages, 34 figures

We discuss the possibility to use the $pp \to pp \phi \phi$ process in identifying the odderon exchange. So far there is no unambiguous experimental evidence for the odderon, the charge conjugation $C = -1$ counterpart of the $C= +1$ pomeron. Last year results of the TOTEM collaboration suggest that the odderon exchange can be responsible for a disagreement of theoretical calculations and the TOTEM data for elastic proton-proton scattering. Here we present recent studies for central exclusive production (CEP) of $\phi \phi$ pairs in proton-proton collisions. We consider the pomeron-pomeron fusion to $\phi \phi$ ($\mathbb{P}\mathbb{P} \to \phi \phi$) through the continuum processes, due to the $\hat{t}$- and $\hat{u}$-channel reggeized $\phi$-meson, photon, and odderon exchanges, as well as through the $s$-channel resonance process ($\mathbb{P}\mathbb{P} \to f_{2}(2340) \to \phi \phi$). This $f_{2}$ state is a candidate for a tensor glueball. The amplitudes for the processes are formulated within the tensor-pomeron and vector-odderon approach. Some model parameters are determined from the comparison to the WA102 experimental data. The odderon exchange is not excluded by the WA102 data for high $\phi \phi$ invariant masses. The measurement of large $M_{\phi \phi}$ or $\rm{Y_{diff}}$ events at the LHC would therefore suggest presence of the odderon exchange., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Proceedings of European Physical Society Conference on High Energy Physics - EPS-HEP2019, Ghent, Belgium, 10-17 July, 2019

There seem to be recently an evidence for $C =$ -1 exchanges in $p p$ and $p \bar p$ elastic scattering at high energies. The analysis there is difficult as the two processes were not measured at the same (large) energies. Here we discuss three different exclusive processes given in the title as a possible source of information for odderon exchange. A sketch of the formalism is presented for each of the reactions. We consider low energy processes measured in the past by the WA102 collaboration and try to make predictions for the LHC. We discuss possible evidences at the low energies and try to make suggestions for the LHC., Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, a talk presented by A. Szczurek at DIS2019 workshop, 8-12 April 2019, Torino, Italy

We present a study of the exclusive $pp \to pp K^{+} K^{-} K^{+} K^{-}$ reaction at high energies. We consider diffractive mechanisms with the intermediate $\phi \phi$ state with its decay into the $K^{+} K^{-} K^{+} K^{-}$ system. We include the $\phi(1020)$ $\hat{t}/\hat{u}$-channel exchanges and the $f_{2}(2340)$ $s$-channel exchange mechanism. This $f_{2}$ state is a candidate for a tensor glueball. We discuss the possibility to use the $pp \to pp \phi \phi$ process in identifying the odderon exchange. An upper limit for the $\mathbb{P} \mathbb{O} \phi$ coupling is extracted from the WA102 experimental data. The amplitudes for the processes are formulated within the tensor-pomeron and vector-odderon approach. We adjust parameters of our model to the WA102 data and present several predictions for the ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb experiments. Integrated cross sections of order of a few nb are obtained including the experimental cuts relevant for the LHC experiments. The distributions in the four-kaon invariant mass, rapidity distance between the two $\phi$ mesons, special ``glueball filter variable'', proton-proton relative azimuthal angle are presented. The distribution in rapidity difference of both $\phi$-mesons could shed light on the $f_{2}(2340) \to \phi \phi$ coupling, not known at present. We discuss the possible role of the $f_{0}(2100)$, $\eta(2225)$, and $X(2500)$ resonances observed in the $\phi \phi$ channel in radiative decays of $J/\psi$. Using typical kinematic cuts for LHC experiments we find from our model that the odderon-exchange contribution should be distinguishable from other contributions for large rapidity distance between the $\phi$ mesons and in the region of large four-kaon invariant masses. At least, it should be possible to derive an upper limit on the odderon contribution in this reaction., Comment: 39 pages, 19 figures

We discuss how to extract the pomeron-pomeron-$f_2(1270)$ ($\mathbb{P} \mathbb{P} f_2(1270)$) coupling within the tensor-pomeron model. The general $\mathbb{P} \mathbb{P} f_2(1270)$ coupling is a combination of seven basic couplings (tensorial structures). To study these tensorial structures we propose to measure the central-exclusive production of a $\pi^+ \pi^-$ pair in the invariant mass region of the $f_2(1270)$ meson. An analysis of angular distributions in the $\pi^+ \pi^-$ rest system, using the Collins-Soper (CS) and the Gottfried-Jackson (GJ) frames, turns out to be particularly relevant for our purpose. For both frames the $\cos\theta_{\pi^{+}}$ and $\phi_{\pi^{+}}$ distributions are discussed. We find that the azimuthal angle distributions in these frames are fairly sensitive to the choice of the $\mathbb{P} \mathbb{P} f_2$ coupling. We show results for the resonance case alone as well as when the dipion continuum is included. We show the influence of the experimental cuts on the angular distributions in the context of dedicated experimental studies at RHIC and LHC energies. Absorption corrections are included for our final distributions., Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures

We review some selected results of the tensor-pomeron and vector-odderon model of soft high-energy proton-proton scattering and central exclusive production of meson and baryon pairs in proton-proton collisions. We discuss the theoretical aspects of this approach and consider the phenomenological implications in a variety of processes at high energies, comparing to existing experimental data. We consider the diffractive dipion and dikaon production including the continuum and the dominant scalar and tensor resonance contributions as well as the photoproduction processes. The theoretical results are compared with existing CDF experimental data and predictions for planned or current LHC experiments, ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, LHCb are presented., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, invited talk by P. Lebiedowicz at ISMD2018, 3-7 September 2018, Singapore

We discuss production of $p\bar{p}$ pairs in two-photon interactions in heavy-ion collisions. We present predictions for the ultraperipheral, ultrarelativistic, heavy-ion collisions (UPC) $^{208}\!Pb \, ^{208}\!Pb \to$ $^{208}\!Pb \, ^{208}\!Pb \,p \bar{p}$. The parameters of vertex form factors are adjusted to the Belle data for the $\gamma \gamma \to p \bar{p}$ reaction. To described the Belle data we include the proton-exchange, the $f_2(1270)$ and $f_2(1950)$ $s$-channel exchanges, as well as the hand-bag mechanism. Then, the total cross section and several differential distributions for experimental cuts corresponding to the LHC experiments are presented. The distribution in $\mathrm{y}_{diff}$, the rapidity distance between the proton and antiproton, is particularly interesting. We find the total cross sections: 100 $\mu$b for the ALICE cuts, 160 $\mu$b for the ATLAS cuts, 500 $\mu$b for the CMS cuts, and 104 $\mu$b taking into account the LHCb cuts. This opens a possibility to study the $\gamma \gamma \to p \bar{p}$ process in UPC at the LHC., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, presented by P. Lebiedowicz at the XIII Workshop on Particle Correlations and Femtoscopy, 22-26 May 2018, Krak\'ow, Poland

We discuss central exclusive diffractive production of light mesons in the reactions $pp \to pp\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ and $pp \to ppK^{+}K^{-}$. The calculation is based on a tensor-pomeron approach. We include a purely diffractive dipion continuum, and the scalar $f_{0}(980)$, $f_{0}(1500)$, $f_{0}(1710)$ and tensor $f_{2}(1270)$, $f'_{2}(1525)$ resonances decaying into pseudoscalar meson pairs. We include also photoproduction mechanisms for the nonresonant (Drell-S\"oding) and the $\phi(1020)$ resonance contributions. The theoretical results are compared with existing CDF experimental data and predictions for being carried out LHC experiments are presented. The distributions in dimeson invariant mass and in a special "glueball filter variable" including the interference effects of resonance and dimeson continuum are presented., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, presented by P. Lebiedowicz at MESON 2018, 7-12 June 2018, Krak\'ow, Poland

We include $p p \to p \Delta^{+} \mu^{+} \mu^{-}$ and $p p \to \Delta^{+} \Delta^{+} \mu^{+} \mu^{-}$ processes in addition to the standard $p p \to p p \mu^{+} \mu^{-}$ process both in equivalent-photon approximation (EPA) and in exact $2 \to 4$ calculations. For comparison we calculate also the continuum proton dissociation in a recently developed $k_{t}$-factorization approach to $\gamma \gamma$-involved processes with parametrizations of $F_{2}$ structure function known from the literature. The calculated cross section including all the processes is considerably larger than the one measured recently by the ATLAS collaboration. We calculate absorption effects for $p p \to p p \mu^{+} \mu^{-}$ process in the momentum space. The final cross section with absorption effects is by 10\% larger than the one measured by the ATLAS collaboration which is difficult to explain. Several differential distributions with the ATLAS experimental cuts are presented. It is shown that the processes with electromagnetic $p \to \Delta(1232)$ and $p \to N(1440)$ transitions, that have similar characteristics as the $p p \to p p \mu^+ \mu^-$ process, increase the cross section for $\mu^+ \mu^-$ production and thus can affect its theoretical interpretation when the leading baryons are not detected as is the case for the CMS and ATLAS measurements. The mechanism of dissociation into hadronic continuum is not under full control as the corresponding absorption effects are not fully understood. We present first predictions for future ATLAS experiment with the ALFA sub-detectors and discuss observables relevant for this measurement., Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, v2 reflects that accepted for publication in PRD

We present a study of the central exclusive production of the $K^{+} K^{-}$ pairs in proton-proton collisions at high energies. We consider diffractive mechanisms including the $K^{+} K^{-}$ continuum, the dominant scalar $f_{0}(980)$, $f_{0}(1500)$, $f_{0}(1710)$ and tensor $f_{2}(1270)$, $f'_{2}(1525)$ resonances decaying into the $K^{+} K^{-}$ pairs. We include also photoproduction mechanisms for the non-resonant (Drell-S\"{o}ding) and the $\phi(1020)$ resonance contributions. The theoretical results are calculated within the tensor-pomeron approach including both pomeron and reggeon exchanges. Predictions for planned or current experiments at RHIC and LHC are presented. We discuss the influence of the experimental cuts on the integrated cross section and on various differential distributions for outgoing particles. The distributions in two-kaon invariant mass, in a special `glueball filter variable', as well as examples of angular distributions in the $K^{+}K^{-}$ rest frame are presented. We compare the $\phi(1020)$ and continuum photoproduction contributions to the $f_{0}(980)$ and continuum diffractive contributions and discuss whether the $\phi(1020)$ resonance could be extracted experimentally. For the determination of some model parameters we also include a discussion of $K$-nucleon scattering, in particular total cross sections, and of $\phi(1020)$ photoproduction., Comment: 35 pages, 12 figures, v2 reflects that accepted for publication in PRD

We consider the central exclusive production of the $p\bar{p}$ in the continuum and via resonances in proton-proton collisions at high energies. We discuss the diffractive mechanism calculated within the tensor-pomeron approach including pomeron, odderon, and reggeon exchanges. The theoretical results are discussed in the context of existing WA102 and ISR experimental data and predictions for planned or current experiments at the RHIC and the LHC are presented. The distribution in ${\rm y}_{diff}$, the rapidity distance between proton and antiproton, is particularly interesting. We find a dip at ${\rm y}_{diff} = 0$ for the $p \bar{p}$ production, in contrast to the $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ and $K^{+}K^{-}$ production. We predict also the $p \bar{p}$ invariant mass distribution to be less steep than for the pairs of pseudoscalar mesons. We argue that these specific differences for the $p \bar{p}$ production with respect to the pseudoscalar meson pair production can be attributed to the proper treatment of the spin of produced particles. We discuss asymmetries that are due to the interference of $C=+1$ and $C=-1$ amplitudes of $p \bar{p}$ production. We have also calculated the cross section for the $pp \to pp \Lambda \overline{\Lambda}$ reaction. Here, the cross section is smaller but the characteristic feature for $d\sigma/d{\rm y}_{diff}$ is predicted to be similar to $p \bar{p}$ production. The presence of resonances in the $p \bar p$ channel may destroy the dip at ${\rm y}_{diff} = 0$. This opens the possibility to study diffractively produced resonances. We discuss the observables suited for this purpose., Comment: 26 pages, 10 figures, added discussion on possible odderon effect, figures and appendix, v2 reflects that accepted for publication in PRD

We discuss central exclusive diffractive dihadron production in proton-proton collisions at high energies. The calculation is based on a tensor pomeron model and the amplitudes for the processes are formulated in an effective field-theoretic approach. We include a purely diffractive dipion continuum, and the scalar and tensor resonances decaying into the $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ pairs as well as the photoproduction contributions ($\rho^{0}$, Drell-S\"oding). We discuss how two pomerons couple to tensor meson $f_{2}(1270)$ and the interference effects of the scalar and tensor resonances and the dipion continuum. The theoretical results are compared with existing CDF and CMS experimental data. We discuss also the Drell-Hiida-Deck type mechanism with centrally produced $\rho^{0}$ meson associated with a very forward/backward $\pi N$ system. For the $pp \to pp \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ reaction we consider both the $\sigma \sigma$ and $\rho \rho$ contributions as well as the triple Regge exchange mechanism. Predictions for planned or being carried out experiments (STAR, ALICE, ATLAS, CMS) are presented. We show the influence of the experimental cuts on the integrated cross section and on various differential distributions for outgoing particles., Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, presented by P. Lebiedowicz at EDS Blois 2017, Prague, Czech Republic, June 26-30, 2017. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1610.04130

In this paper we consider the production of proton-antiproton pairs in two-photon interactions in electron-positron and heavy-ion collisions. We try to understand the dependence of the total cross section on the photon-photon c.m. energy as well as corresponding angular distributions measured by the Belle Collaboration for the $\gamma \gamma \to p \bar{p}$ process. To understand the Belle data we include the proton-exchange, the $f_2(1270)$ and $f_2(1950)$ $s$-channel exchanges, as well as the hand-bag mechanism. The helicity amplitudes for the $\gamma \gamma \to f_{2} \to p \bar{p}$ process are written explicitly based on a Lagrangian approach. The parameters of vertex form factors are adjusted to the Belle data. Having described the angular distributions for the $\gamma \gamma \to p \bar{p}$ process we present first predictions for the ultraperipheral, ultrarelativistic, heavy-ion reaction $^{208}\!Pb \, ^{208}\!Pb \to$ $^{208}\!Pb \, ^{208}\!Pb \,p \bar{p}$. Both, the total cross section and several differential distributions for experimental cuts corresponding to the ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb experiments are presented. We find the total cross section 100 $\mu$b for the ALICE cuts, 160 $\mu$b for the ATLAS cuts, 500 $\mu$b for the CMS cuts, and 104 $\mu$b taking into account the LHCb cuts. This opens a possibility to study the $\gamma \gamma \to p \bar{p}$ process at the LHC., Comment: 37 pages, 18 figures, 6 tables; v2 accepted for publication in PRD

We discuss the role of meson exchange mechanisms in $\gamma \gamma \to \gamma \gamma$ scattering. Several pseudoscalar ($\pi^0$, $\eta$, $\eta'(958)$, $\eta_c(1S)$, $\eta_c(2S)$), scalar ($f_{0}(500)$, $f_0(980)$, $a_0(980)$, $f_0(1370)$, $\chi_{c0}(1P)$) and tensor ($f_2(1270)$, $a_2(1320)$, $f_2'(1525)$, $f_2(1565)$, $a_2(1700)$) mesons are taken into account. We consider not only $s$-channel but also for the first time $t$- and $u$-channel meson exchange amplitudes corrected for off-shell effects including vertex form factors. We find that, depending on not well known vertex form factors, the meson exchange amplitudes interfere among themselves and could interfere with fermion-box amplitudes and modify the resulting cross sections. The meson contributions are shown as a function of collision energy as well as angular distributions are presented. Interesting interference effects separately for light pseudoscalar, scalar and tensor meson groups are discussed. The meson exchange contributions may be potentially important in the context of a measurement performed recently in ultraperipheral collisions of heavy ions by the ATLAS collaboration. The light-by-light interactions could be studied in future in electron-positron collisions by the Belle II at SuperKEKB accelerator., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 1 table

We consider exclusive multi-peripheral production of four charged pions in proton-proton collisions at high energies with simultaneous exchange of three pomerons/reggeons. The amplitude(s) for the genuine $2 \to 6$ process are written in the Regge approach. The calculation is performed with the help of the GenEx Monte Carlo code. Some corrections at low invariant masses in the two-body subsystems are necessary for application of the Regge formalism. We estimate the corresponding cross section and present differential distributions in rapidity, transverse momenta and two- and four-pion invariant masses. The cross section and the distributions depend on the value of the cut-off parameter of a form factor correcting amplitudes for off-shellness of $t$-channel pions. Rather large cross section is found for the whole phase space ($\sigma \sim$ 1-5 $\mu$b, including absorption corrections). Relatively large four-pion invariant masses are populated in the considered diffractive mechanism compared to other mechanisms discussed so far in the context of four-pion production. We investigate whether the triple Regge exchange processes could be identified with the existing LHC detectors. We consider the case of ATLAS and ALICE cuts. The ATLAS (or CMS) has better chances to identify the process in the region of large invariant masses $M_{4 \pi} > 10$ GeV. In the case of the ALICE experiment the considered mechanism competes with other mechanisms (production of $\sigma \sigma$, $\rho \rho$ pairs or single resonances) and cannot be unambiguously identified., Comment: 30 pages, 25 figures

We consider the $pp \to pp \rho^{0} \pi^{0}$ and $pp \to pn \rho^{0} \pi^{+}$ processes at LHC energies. Our description is based on the nonperturbative framework of tensor pomeron and tensor reggeon exchanges. We discuss the Drell-Hiida-Deck type mechanism with centrally produced $\rho^{0}$ meson associated with a very forward/backward $\pi N$ system. The considered processes constitute an inelastic (non-exclusive) background to the $p p \to p p \rho^0$ reaction in the case when only the centrally produced $\rho^{0}$ meson decaying into $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ is measured, the final state protons are not observed, and only rapidity-gap conditions are checked experimentally. We compare our results for the $\gamma \pi^{+} \to \rho^{0} \pi^{+}$ reaction with the experimental data obtained by the H1 collaboration at HERA. We present several differential distributions for the $pp \to pn \rho^{0} \pi^{+}$ reaction and estimate the size of the proton dissociative background to the exclusive $p p \to p p \rho^0$ process. The ratio of integrated cross sections for the inelastic $p p \to p N \rho^0 \pi$ processes, where $p N \rho^0 \pi$ stands for $p n \rho^0 \pi^{+}$ plus $p p \rho^0 \pi^{0}$, to the reference reaction $pp \to \ pp \rho^0$ is of order of (7--10)\%. We present also the ratios of the $\rho^0$ rapidity and transverse momentum distributions for the inelastic $p p \to p N \rho^0 \pi$ versus the elastic $pp \to \ pp \rho^0$ reaction. Our results may be used to investigate the $\gamma \pi \to \rho^{0} \pi$ process at LHC energies., Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures

We discuss diphoton semi(exclusive) production in ultraperipheral $PbPb$ collisions at energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 5.5 TeV (LHC). The nuclear calculations are based on equivalent photon approximation in the impact parameter space. The cross sections for elementary $\gamma \gamma \to \gamma \gamma$ subprocess are calculated including three different mechanisms: box diagrams with leptons and quarks in the loops, a VDM-Regge contribution with virtual intermediate hadronic excitations of the photons and the two-gluon exchange contribution (formally three-loops). We got relatively high cross sections in $PbPb$ collisions. This opens a possibility to study the $\gamma \gamma \to \gamma \gamma$ (quasi)elastic scattering at the LHC. We find that the cross section for elastic $\gamma\gamma$ scattering could be measured in the lead-lead collisions for the diphoton invariant mass up to $W_{\gamma\gamma} \approx 15-20$ GeV. We identify region(s) of phase space where the two-gluon exchange contribution becomes important ingredient compared to box and nonperturbative VDM-Regge mechanisms. We discuss also first results concerning production of two $e^+ e^-$ pairs in UPCs of heavy ions. We considered only double scattering mechanism., Comment: invited talk by A. Szczurek at the international workshop Diffraction 2016, Santa Tecla, Sicily, Italy, September 2-7, 2016, 6 pages, 7 figures, 1 table. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1610.08546, arXiv:1606.09038

The goal of this report is to give a comprehensive overview of the rich field of forward physics, with a special attention to the topics that can be studied at the LHC. The report starts presenting a selection of the Monte Carlo simulation tools currently available, chapter 2, then enters the rich phenomenology of QCD at low, chapter 3, and high, chapter 4, momentum transfer, while the unique scattering conditions of central exclusive production are analyzed in chapter 5. The last two experimental topics, Cosmic Ray and Heavy Ion physics are presented in the chapter 6 and 7 respectively. Chapter 8 is dedicated to the BFKL dynamics, multiparton interactions, and saturation. The report ends with an overview of the forward detectors at LHC. Each chapter is correlated with a comprehensive bibliography, attempting to provide to the interested reader with a wide opportunity for further studies., Comment: 358 pages; authors added that were missing; minor fixes in affiliations

We consider exclusive $pp \to pp \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ and $pp \to pp \pi^{+} \pi^{-}\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ reactions at high energies. The calculation is based on a tensor pomeron model and the amplitudes for the processes are formulated in an effective field-theoretic approach. In the case of $pp \to pp \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ process we consider both diffractive and photoproduction mechanisms and we include the non-resonant $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ continuum and the resonance $f_{0}(500)$, $f_{0}(980)$, $f_{2}(1270)$, $\rho(770)$ contributions. We discuss how two pomerons couple to tensor meson $f_{2}(1270)$ and the interference effects of resonance and dipion continuum. We find that the relative contribution of resonances $\rho(770)$, $f_2(1270)$ and dipion continuum strongly depends on the cut on proton transverse momenta. In the case of exclusive central $4 \pi$ production we include the contribution via the intermediate $\sigma\sigma$ and $\rho\rho$ states. For both processes the theoretical results have been compared with the experimental data and predictions for planned or being carried out experiments (e.g. STAR, ATLAS-ALFA) are presented., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, talk presented by P. Lebiedowicz at the Low-x 2016 conference, Gy\"ongy\"os, Hungary, June 6-11, 2016. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1606.09046

The exclusive charmonium production process in $\bar{p}p$ annihilation with an associated $\pi^0$ meson $\bar{p}p\to J/\psi\pi^0$ is studied in the framework of QCD collinear factorization. The feasibility of measuring this reaction through the $J/\psi\to e^+e^-$ decay channel with the PANDA (AntiProton ANnihilation at DArmstadt) experiment is investigated. Simulations on signal reconstruction efficiency as well as the background rejection from various sources including the $\bar{p}p\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ and $\bar{p}p\to J/\psi\pi^0\pi^0$ reactions are performed with PandaRoot, the simulation and analysis software framework of the PANDA experiment. It is shown that the measurement can be done at PANDA with significant constraining power under the assumption of an integrated luminosity attainable in four to five months of data taking at the maximum design luminosity., Comment: 25 pages, 22 figures

We discuss whether the enhancement in the diphoton final state at $M_{\gamma \gamma}$ = 750 GeV, observed recently by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations could be a neutral pseudoscalar technipion $\tilde{\pi}^0$. We considered two distinct minimal models for the dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking. Here we concentrate only on two-flavor vector-like technicolor model and we assume that the two-photon fusion is a dominant production mechanism. We include contributions of $2 \to 1$, $2 \to 2$ and $2 \to 3$ partonic processes. All the mechanisms give similar contributions to the cross section. With the strong Yukawa (technipion-techniquark) coupling $g_{TC} \simeq 20$ we roughly obtain the measured cross section of the "signal". With such value of $g_{TC}$ we get a relatively small total decay width $\Gamma_{\rm tot}$. We discuss also the size of the signal at lower energies (LHC, Tevatron) for $\gamma \gamma$ final states, where the enhancement was not observed. We predict a measurable cross section for neutral technipion production associated with one or two soft jets. The technipion signal is compared with the Standard Model diphoton background contributions. We observe the dominance of inelastic-inelastic $\gamma \gamma$ processes. We predict the signal cross section for purely exclusive $p p \to p p \gamma \gamma$ procesess at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV to be about 0.2 fb. Such a cross section would be, however, difficult to measure with the planned integrated luminosity. We conclude that in all considered cases the signal is below the background or/and below the threshold set by statistics although some tension can be seen., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, talk presented by A. Szczurek at DIS2016 conference, 11-15 April 2016, DESY Hamburg, Germany

We discuss exclusive central diffractive production of $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ in proton-(anti)proton collisions at high energies. Based on a tensor pomeron model we present results of the purely diffractive dipion continuum, the scalar $f_{0}(500)$, $f_{0}(980)$ and tensor $f_{2}(1270)$ resonances decaying into the $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ pairs as well as the photoproduction mechanism ($\rho^{0}$, Drell-S\"oding). We discuss how two pomerons couple to the tensor meson $f_{2}(1270)$ and the interference effects of resonance and dipion continuum contributions. The theoretical results are compared with existing STAR, CDF, and CMS experimental data. Predictions for planned or being carried out experiments (ALICE, ATLAS) are presented. We find that the relative contribution of resonant $f_2(1270)$ and dipion continuum strongly depend on the cut on proton transverse momenta (or four-momentum transfer squared $t_{1,2}$) which may explain some controversial observations made by different ISR experiments in the past. The cuts may play then the role of a $\pi \pi$ resonance filter., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, presented by P. Lebiedowicz at DIS2016, 11-15 April 2016, DESY Hamburg, Germany

We discuss diphoton semi(exclusive) production in ultraperipheral $PbPb$ collisions at energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 5.5 TeV (LHC). The nuclear calculations are based on equivalent photon approximation in the impact parameter space. The cross sections for elementary $\gamma \gamma \to \gamma \gamma$ subprocess are calculated including two different mechanisms: box diagrams with leptons and quarks in the loops and a VDM-Regge contribution with virtual intermediate hadronic excitations of the photons. We got relatively high cross sections in $PbPb$ collisions ($306$ nb). This opens a possibility to study the $\gamma \gamma \to \gamma \gamma$ (quasi)elastic scattering at the LHC. We find that the cross section for elastic $\gamma\gamma$ scattering could be measured in the lead-lead collisions for the diphoton invariant mass $W_{\gamma\gamma} \approx 15-20$ GeV., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, talk given at 24th International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects (DIS 2016), 11-15 April 2016, DESY Hamburg, Germany