In the realm of high-energy physics, researchers Piotr Lebiedowicz, Otto Nachtmann, and Antoni Szczurek have been delving into the intricacies of particle interactions. Affiliated with institutions in Poland and Austria, these scientists have been exploring a phenomenon known as central exclusive production (CEP) in proton-proton collisions, with a particular focus on the production of η and η’ mesons. Their findings, recently published in the journal Physical Review D, offer insights that could have implications for our understanding of fundamental particles and forces, including those relevant to the energy sector.
The researchers have been investigating the mechanisms behind the production of η and η’ mesons in high-energy proton-proton collisions, such as those occurring at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Their work centers around a concept known as the pomeron, a theoretical entity that mediates the strong force in certain particle interactions. Specifically, they have been studying the fusion reactions that result in the production of these mesons, denoted as ${\rm I\!P I\!P} \to η, η’$, where ${\rm I\!P}$ represents the pomeron.
One of the key findings of this research is that, for a scalar pomeron, these fusion reactions are not possible. This means that if the pomeron were to behave as a scalar particle, it would not facilitate the production of η and η’ mesons in the manner described. However, in the tensor-pomeron model, which posits that the pomeron behaves as a tensor particle, CEP of η and η’ mesons via double-pomeron exchange is indeed allowed. This distinction is crucial for understanding the nature of the pomeron and the mechanisms of particle production in high-energy collisions.
The researchers have also presented cross sections and distributions for these reactions at two different energy scales: $\sqrt{s} = 29.1$ GeV, which corresponds to the energy realized at the WA102 experiment, and $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, which corresponds to the energy of the LHC experiments. These calculations provide valuable data for experimental physicists searching for these mesons in proton-proton collisions.
While this research is fundamentally focused on particle physics, it contributes to the broader understanding of the strong force and particle interactions. In the energy sector, such understanding can inform the development of advanced technologies, including those related to nuclear energy and particle accelerators. By unraveling the mysteries of particle interactions, researchers like Lebiedowicz, Nachtmann, and Szczurek are paving the way for future innovations in energy production and utilization.
Source: Physical Review D, Volume 108, Issue 11, 114016 (2023)
This article is based on research available at arXiv.