Comparison of the color-evaporation model and the NRQCD factorization approach in charmonium production

Abstract

We compare the color-evaporation model (CEM) and nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization predictions for inclusive quarkonium production. Using the NRQCD factorization formulas for quarkonium production and for perturbative QQ-bar production, we deduce relationships that are implied by the CEM between the nonperturbative NRQCD matrix elements that appear in the factorization formula for quarkonium production. These relationships are at odds with the phenomenological values of the matrix elements that have been extracted from the Tevatron data for charmonium production at large transverse momentum. A direct comparison of the CEM and NRQCD factorization predictions with the CDF charmonium production data reveals that the CEM fits to the data are generally unsatisfactory, while the NRQCD factorization fits are generally compatible with the data. The inclusion of k_T smearing improves the CEM fits substantially, but significant incompatibilities remain. The NRQCD factorization fits to the chi_c data indicate that multiple gluon radiation is an essential ingredient in obtaining the correct shape of the cross section as a function of p_T.