Modeling coincident particle production in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions

Abstract

In this paper, we present an analysis of coincident particle production in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions. In particular, we present the first detailed and differential predictions for coincident ρ0 meson production in association with muon pair production, motivated by the recent ATLAS measurement of this process. These are found to describe the data very well, including the dependence of the coincidence fraction on the zero degree calorimeter selection and/or other kinematic constraints on the muons. Differential predictions at the level of various kinematic variables are presented, and the calculation is made publicly available in the uperhic MC generator. We also present general results for coincident two-photon-initiated production focusing on muon and electron pair production; while the former is rather suppressed, the latter will be ubiquitous at threshold. The impact of coincident production on exclusivity vetoes in ultraperipheral measurements is in addition discussed.