Central exclusive production of K+K− pairs in proton-proton collisions

Abstract

We discuss central exclusive diffractive production of light mesons in the reactions $pp \to pp{\pi ^ + }{\pi ^ - }$ and $pp \to pp{K^ + }{K^ - }$. The calculation is based on a tensor-pomeron approach. We include a purely diffractive dipion continuum, and the scalar f0(980), f0(1500), f0(1710) and tensor f2(1770), ${f^{\prime}_2}(1525)$ resonances decaying into pseudoscalar meson pairs. We include also photoproduction mechanisms for the nonresonant (Drell-Söding) and the ϕ(1020) resonance contributions. The theoretical results are compared with existing CDF experimental data and predictions for being carried out LHC experiments are presented. The distributions in dimeson invariant mass and in a special "glueball filter variable" including the interference effects of resonance and dimeson continuum are presented.