Coherent vector meson production at an electron ion collider

Abstract

Exclusive vector meson electroproduction over a broad Q 2 range offers a unique opportunity to probe the gluon structure of nuclei to measure nuclear shadowing, and to search for gluon saturation and/or the colored glass condensate at an Electron-Ion Collider. Understanding the kinematic distributions and cross sections for specific processes can impact detector design to maximize their acceptance and strengthen the physics case. We will discuss predictions from a Monte Carlo generator eSTARlight, a tool developed to study production of exclusive vector meson final states. We present final state distributions and production rates for the ρ, φ , J/ψ, ψ and the ϒ states in ep and eA collisions at the different energies.

Summary of Working Group 7: Future of DIS

“…Vector mesons are produced over a wide rapidity range (see Fig 7). Therefore, reliable forward and rear instrumentation is essential for this type of physics at the EIC [17]. DIS of deuterons with detection of a proton in the nuclear fragmentation region ("spectator tagging") represents a unique method for extracting the neutron structure functions and their spin dependence [18].…”