Energy dependence of dissociative $mathrm{J/}psi$ photoproduction as a signature of gluon saturation at the LHC


Abstract in English

We have developed a model in which the quantum fluctuations of the proton structure are characterised by hot spots, whose number grows with decreasing Bjorken-$x$. Our model reproduces the $F_2(x,Q^2)$ data from HERA at the relevant scale, as well as the exclusive and dissociative $mathrm{J/}psi$ photoproduction data from H1 and ALICE. Our model predicts that for $W_{gammamathrm{p}} approx 500$ GeV, the dissociative $mathrm{J/}psi$ cross section reaches a maximum and then decreases steeply with energy, which is in qualitatively good agreement to a recent observation that the dissociative $mathrm{J/}psi$ background in the exclusive $mathrm{J/}psi$ sample measured in photoproduction by ALICE decreases as energy increases. Our prediction provides a clear signature for gluon saturation at LHC energies.

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