title: Coherent vector-meson photoproduction with nuclear breakup in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.
abstract: Relativistic heavy ions are copious sources of virtual photons. The large photon flux gives rise to a substantial photonuclear interaction probability at impact parameters where no hadronic interactions can occur. Multiple photonuclear interactions in a single collision are possible. In this Letter, we use mutual Coulomb excitation of both nuclei as a tag for moderate-impact-parameter collisions. We calculate the cross section for coherent vector-meson production accompanied by mutual excitation and show that the median impact parameter is much smaller than for untagged production. The vector-meson rapidity and transverse-momentum distribution are very different from untagged exclusive vector-meson production.
authors.affiliation: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Baltz
authors.forename: Spencer R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nystrand