Color-octet mechanism in $γ+ p \to J/ψ+ X$

TL;DR

The paper tests the NRQCD color-octet mechanism in γp→J/ψ+X by including 1S0^(8), 3S1^(8), and 3P_J^(8) contributions. It develops a formalism linking short-distance coefficients to NRQCD LDME matrix elements and computes both 2→1 and 2→2 color-octet subprocesses, alongside the color-singlet baseline. Numerical results for fixed-target and HERA kinematics indicate that LDME values inferred from Tevatron fits overpredict forward-region and high-z photoproduction, suggesting these matrix elements may be overestimated and highlighting the need for higher-order corrections or a reevaluation of spin-symmetry assumptions. The findings imply careful reexamination of color-octet contributions in heavy quarkonium production and motivate improved determinations of LDME values.

Abstract

Photoproduction of $J/ψ$ is considered including the color-octet contributions from the various partial wave states, $^{2S+1}L_J$ = $^1S_0$, $^3S_1$ and $^3P_J$. The production cross section depends on three new nonperturbative parameters defined in NRQCD, called the color-octet matrix elements. Using the color-octet matrix elements determined by fitting the $J/ψ$ production at the Tevatron, we find that the color-octet($c\bar{c}) _{8}({^1S_0}~{\rm and~}~{^3P_J})$ contributions to the $J/ψ$ photoproductions at the fixed target experiments and HERA are too large compared to the data on $σ(γ+ p \to J/ψ+X)$ in the forward direction, the $z$ distribution of $J/ψ$. The $P_T^2$ distribution of $J/ψ$ and the total inelastic $J/ψ$ production rate as a function of $\sqrt{s_ {γp}}$ are predicted including color-octet contributions. We also briefly digress on the $B \to J/ψ+ X$ and observe the similar situation. This may be an indication that the color-octet matrix elements determined from the $J/ψ$ production at the Tevatron, especially $<0 | {\cal O}_{8}^ψ ({^1S_0}) | 0>$ and $<0 | {\cal O}_{8}^ψ ({^3P_J}) | 0>$, might have been overestimated by an order of magnitude.