Abstract
We report the first observation of exclusive $\rho$ production in ultra-peripheral collisions at RHIC. The $\rho$ are produced electromagnetically at large impact parameters where no hadronic interactions occur. The produced $\rho$ have a small perpendicular momentum, consistent with production that is coherent on both the photon emitting and scattering nuclei. We observe both exclusive $\rho$ production, and $\rho$ production accompanied by electromagnetic dissociation of both nuclei. We discuss models of vector meson production and the correlation with nuclear breakup. We also observe $e^+e^-$ pair production in these ultra-peripheral collisions.
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