Inclusive double-pomeron exchange at the fermilab tevatron p p collider

Area of Science:

• High Energy Physics
• Particle Physics
• Quantum Chromodynamics

Background:

• Proton-antiproton collisions provide a unique environment to study fundamental interactions.
• Pomeron exchange is a key concept in understanding high-energy scattering.
• Previous studies indicated significant suppression of double-Pomeron exchange relative to single diffractive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate events with a double-Pomeron exchange topology in proton-antiproton collisions at 1800 GeV.
• To compare the observed production cross section with theoretical predictions from Regge theory.
• To determine the suppression factor for double-Pomeron exchange compared to single diffractive production.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of exclusive events featuring a leading antiproton and a large rapidity gap.
• Measurement of the differential production cross section for double-Pomeron exchange events.
• Comparison of experimental data with predictions derived from Regge theory and factorization models.

Main Results:

• The differential production cross section exhibits a shape consistent with Regge theory and factorization predictions.
• The ratio of double-Pomeron exchange to single diffractive production rates is found to be relatively unsuppressed.
• A suppression factor of approximately O(1) is observed, contrasting with the O(10) suppression seen in single diffractive production.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the validity of Regge theory and factorization in describing double-Pomeron exchange processes.
• The observed unsuppressed production rate of double-Pomeron exchange events has significant implications for understanding high-energy scattering dynamics.
• These findings necessitate a re-evaluation of suppression mechanisms in diffractive particle production.