Central exclusive diffractive production of K+ K- K+ K- via the intermediate φφ state in proton-proton collisions

We present a study of the exclusive pp -> pp K+ K- K+ K- reaction at high energies. We consider diffractive mechanisms with the intermediate phi phi state with its decay into the K+ K- K+ K- system. We include the phi(1020) t/u-channel exchanges and the f(2)(2340) s-channel exchange mechanism. This f(2) state is a candidate for a tensor glueball. We discuss the possibility to use the pp -> pp phi phi process in identifying the Odderon exchange. An upper limit for the PO phi coupling is extracted from the WA102 experimental data. The amplitudes for the processes are formulated within the tensor-Pomeron and vector-Odderon approach. We adjust parameters of our model to the WA102 data and present several predictions for the ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb experiments. Integrated cross sections of order of a few nb are obtained, including the experimental cuts relevant for the LHC experiments. The distributions in the fourkaon invariant mass, rapidity distance between the two phi mesons, special "glueball filter variable," and proton-proton relative azimuthal angle are presented. The distribution in rapidity difference of both phi-mesons could shed light on the f(2)(2340) -> phi phi coupling, not known at present. We discuss the possible role of the f(0)(2100) eta(2225), and X(2500) resonances observed in the phi phi channel in radiative decays of J/psi. Using typical kinematic cuts for LHC experiments, we find from our model that the Odderon-exchange contribution should be distinguishable from other contributions for large rapidity distance between the phi mesons and in the region of large four-kaon invariant masses. At least, it should be possible to derive an upper limit on the Odderon contribution in this reaction.