Coherent ρ0 production in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions -: art. no. 272302

The STAR Collaboration reports the first observation of exclusive rho(0) photoproduction, AuAu-->AuAurho(0), and rho(0) production accompanied by mutual nuclear Coulomb excitation, AuAu-->Au(star)Au(star)rho(0), in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions. The rho(0) have low transverse momenta, consistent with coherent coupling to both nuclei. The cross sections at s(NN)=130 GeV agree with theoretical predictions treating rho(0) production and Coulomb excitation as independent processes.