Exclusive photoproduction of a $\pi^0\gamma $ pair in the saturation framework

Abstract

We consider the exclusive photoproduction of a $\pi^0 \gamma$ pair with large invariant mass, as a promising channel to study the effects of gluon saturation. It has recently been demonstrated that this process is incompatible with a collinear factorization approach in terms of generalized parton distributions (GPDs) at the leading twist. In such a situation, a (generalized) $k_T$-dependent factorization at small $x$ is a valid alternative approach. We perform this calculation using the shockwave formalism, which resums multiple gluon exchanges between the projectile and the dense nuclear target. We find that the polarized amplitude changes sign as a function of back-to-back transverse momentum $|\vec{p}_t|$ of the pion-photon pair, resulting in a dip-like structure in the fully differential cross section as a function of $|\vec{p}_t|$.