Speculations on the Production of Vector Mesons

Various approximate methods are applied in order to estimate vector boson production at high energies. Most of the calculations refer to photon-induced interactions, but in addition a certain class of reactions induced by $\pi$ and $K$ beams is discussed. The photoproduction of $\rho$'s and $\omega$'s is considered by a diffraction mechanism as well as by a one-pion-exchange mechanism. Both of these methods lead to surprisingly large numbers for the cross section. The subsequent decay of ${\rho }^0\left({\omega }^0\right)\to e^{+}\left({\mu }^{+}\right)+e^{-}\left({\mu }^{-}\right)$ is considered as a possible and interpretable correction to the pure quantum electrodynamic calculations of large angle pair production. The possibility of measuring the $\rho \left(\omega \right)\pi \gamma$ coupling constant is examined by considering the coherent process in the nuclear Coulomb field $\pi +A\to \rho \left(\omega \right)+A$. The question of whether vector boson production could give significant enhancement to secondary pion and kaon beams is considered. No confident theoretical statement can be made about this question, and a definite answer depends on the experimental determination of certain parameters.