Study of the central exclusive production of π+π−, K+K−, and pp̄ pairs in proton-proton collisions at s = 510 GeV with the STAR detector at RHIC

Abstract

We report on the measurement of the central exclusive production process [Formula: see text] in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] GeV with the STAR detector at RHIC. At this energy, the process is dominated by a double Pomeron exchange mechanism. The tracks of the centrally produced system [Formula: see text] were reconstructed in the central detector of STAR, the time projection chamber and the time of flight systems. Particles were identified using the ionization energy loss and the time of flight method. The diffractively scattered protons, moving intact inside the RHIC beam pipe after the collision, were measured in the Roman Pots system allowing full control of the interaction’s kinematics and verification of its exclusivity. Preliminary results on the invariant mass distributions of centrally produced [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] pairs measured within the STAR acceptance are presented.