Novel cross section ratios as possible signals of saturation in ultraperipheral collisions
We propose new cross section ratios in ultraperipheral A + A and p + A collisions (UPCs) as a potential experimental signal of saturation physics. We consider the ratio R 1 of elastic vector meson photoproduction cross section to the inclusive hadron or jet photoproduction cross section. The ratio can be measured in the γ + A and γ + p collisions taking place in the UPCs. We label the ratios R 1 ( A ) and R 1 ( p ) , respectively. Constructing the double ratio R UPC ( A ) = R 1 ( A ) / R 1 ( p ) , and performing a small- x calculation both in the quasiclassical approximation and by including small- x evolution, we observe that R UPC ( A ) exhibits a markedly different dependence on the nuclear atomic number inside and outside the saturation region. This result indicates that R UPC ( A ) and R 1 ( A ) measurements in UPCs may help in the experimental searches for the evidence of saturation physics. Published by the American Physical Society 2024