Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Scientific paper
1996-06-26
Z.Phys. C74 (1997) 671-685
Physics
High Energy Physics
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
34 pages, LaTeX, 15 Postscript figures included using epsf. The complete paper, including figures, is also available via anony
Scientific paper
We use perturbative QCD to calculate the cross sections $\sigma^{L,T}$ for the diffractive production of open charm $(c\overline{c})$ from longitudinally and transversely polarised photons (of virtuality $Q^2$) incident at high energy $(\sqrt{s})$ on a proton target. We study both the $Q^2$ and $M^2$ dependence of the cross sections, where $M$ is the invariant mass of the $c\overline{c}$ pair. Surprisingly, the result for $\sigma^T$, as well as for $\sigma^L$, is perturbatively stable. We estimate higher-order corrections and find a sizeable enhancement of the cross sections. The cross sections depend on the {\it square} of the gluon density $g (x, K^2)$, and we show that the observation of open charm at the HERA electron-proton collider can act as a sensitive probe of the gluon distribution for $x = (Q^2 + M^2)/s$ and scale $K^2 = (m_c^2 + \langle k_T^2 \rangle) (1 + Q^2/M^2)$ where the average quark transverse momentum squared $\langle k_T^2 \rangle \sim m_c^2$. As compared to diffractive $J/\psi$ production, open charm has the advantage that it is independent of the non-perturbative ambiguities arising from the $J/\psi$ wave function. We estimate the fraction of diffractive events that arise from $c\overline{c}$ production.
Levin Eugene M.
Martin A. D.
Ryskin M. G.
Teubner Thomas
No associations
LandOfFree
Diffractive open charm production at HERA does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Diffractive open charm production at HERA, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Diffractive open charm production at HERA will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-246613