Production of Z0 bosons with rapidity gaps: Exclusive photoproduction in γp and pp collisions and inclusive double diffractive Z0's

We extend the k(perpendicular to)-factorization formalism for exclusive photoproduction of vector mesons to the production of electroweak Z(0) bosons. Predictions for the gamma p -> Z(0)p and pp -> ppZ(0) reactions are given using an unintegrated gluon distribution tested against deep inelastic data. We show distributions in the Z(0) rapidity, transverse momentum of Z(0) as well as in relative azimuthal angle between outgoing protons. The contributions of different flavors are discussed. Absorption effects lower the cross section by a factor of 1.5-2, depending on the Z-boson rapidity. We also discuss the production of Z(0) bosons in central inclusive production. Here rapidity and (x(IP,1), x(IP,2)) distributions of Z(0) are calculated. The corresponding cross section is about 3 orders of magnitude larger than that for the purely exclusive process.