Vector-meson production at large transverse momentum

This paper considers possible extensions of the Landshoff--Polkinghorne quark-fusion model, for the production of large-pT pseudoscalar mesons, to include the vector-meson nonet. The relative multiplicities of pseudoscalars, taking vector-meson decay into account, are calculated in two models. The leptonic decays of the ρ0, ω, and φ give rise to a predicted e+/π+ ratio of about 5 x 10-5 in both models. Qualitative features of the models are discussed in the light of existing data on the structure of large-transverse-momentum events.