Exclusive meson pair production in proton-proton collisions

Abstract

We present a study of the exclusive production of meson pairs in the four-body pp → ppπ+π−, ppK+K− reactions at high energies which constitute an irreducible background to resonance states (e.g. ϕ, f2(1270), f0(1500), f'2(1525), Χc0). We consider central diffractive contribution mediated by Pomeron and Reggeon exchanges and new diffractive mechanism of emission of pions/kaons from the proton lines. We include absorption effects due to proton-proton interaction and pion/kaon rescattering. Predictions for the total cross section and differential distributions in pion/kaon rapidity and transverse momentum as well as two-pion/kaon invariant mass are presented for the RHIC, Tevatron and LHC colliders. Finally we consider a measurement of exclusive production of a scalar χc0 meson via χc0 → π+π−, K+K− decay.