Predictions of the generalized Glauber model for the coherentρproduction at relativistic and ultrarelativistic energies

Abstract

We calculate the rapidity distribution and the total cross section of coherent and incoherent $\ensuremath{\rho}$ production in heavy ion ultraperipheral collisions at ${\sqrt{s}}_{\mathrm{NN}}=130\mathrm{GeV}$ using the generalized vector dominance model and the Gribov-Glauber approach. We find the coherent cross section of \ensuremath{\rho}-production ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{coh}}=490\mathrm{mb}$ compared to ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{coh}}=370\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}170\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}80\mathrm{mb}$ recently reported by the STAR collaboration at RHIC. The predicted cross section inside the acceptance of the experiment, $|y|<~1,$ agrees with the data within half a standard deviation. It is emphasized that measurements of the rapidity distribution will provide a much more stringent test of the used approach.