Measurement of the prompt J/ψ pair production cross-section in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract

The production of two prompt J/ψ mesons, each with transverse momenta p_T > 8.5 GeV and rapidity |y| < 2.1, is studied using a sample of proton-proton collisions at √s=8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 11.4 fb⁻¹ collected in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The differential cross-section, assuming unpolarised J/ψ production, is measured as a function of the transverse momentum of the lower-p_T J/ψ meson, di-J/ψ p_T and mass, the difference in rapidity between the two J/ψ mesons, and the azimuthal angle between the two J/ψ mesons. The fraction of prompt pair events due to double parton scattering is determined by studying kinematic correlations between the two J/ψ mesons. The total and double parton scattering cross-sections are compared with predictions. The effective cross-section of double parton scattering is measured to be σ_eff = 6.3 ± 1.6 (stat) ± 1.0 (syst) mb.