XYZ spectroscopy at electron-hadron facilities III: Semi-inclusive processes with vector exchanges

Abstract

Inclusive production processes will be important for the first observations of $XYZ$ states at new generation electron-hadron colliders, as they generally benefit from larger cross sections than their exclusive counterparts. We make predictions of semi-inclusive photoproduction of the $\chi_{c1}(1P)$ and $X(3872)$, whose peripheral production is assumed to be dominated by vector exchanges. We validate the applicability of Vector Meson Dominance in the axial-vector charmonium sector and calculate production rates at center-of-mass energies relevant for future experimental facilities. We find the semi-inclusive cross sections near threshold to be enhanced by a factor of $\sim 2-3$ compared to the exclusive reaction and well suited for a first observation in photoproduction.