Testing the double-logarithm asymptotic gluon density in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the application of an analytical gluon distribution based on double-asymptotic scaling to the photoproduction of vector mesons in coherent $pp$, $pA$, and $AA$ collisions at LHC energies, using the color dipole formalism. Predictions for the rapidity distribution are presented for $\ddot{I}{}^0$, $J/\ddot{I}ˆ$, $\ddot{I}ˆ(2S)$, and $\hat{I}\yen (1S)$ mesons photoproduction. An analysis of the uncertainties associated with different implementations of the dipole--proton amplitude is performed. The vector meson photoproduction accompanied by electromagnetic dissociation is also analyzed.

16 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables. Matches the final version