Coherent Vector Meson Production in Ultra-Peripheral Heavy-Ion Collisions at STAR

We report the first observation of coherent ρ production (AuAu→ AuAuρ) and ρ production accompanied by mutual nuclear Coulomb excitation (AuAu → AuAuρ), and the observation of coherent ee pair production (AuAu→AuAuee) in ultraperipheral relativistic heavy-ion collisions (UPCs). We give transverse momentum, mass, and rapidity distributions. The cross sections for coherent ρ production at √ sNN =130 and 200 GeV are in agreement with theoretical predictions, which treat ρ production and nuclear excitation as independent processes.