Production of low mass electron pairs due to the photon-photon mechanism in central collisions - art. no. 027901

We calculate the probability for dilepton production in central relativisti c heavy ion collisions due to the yy mechanism. This is a potential backgro und to more interesting mechanisms. We find that this mechanism is negligib le in the CERES experiments. Generally, the contribution due to this mechan ism is small in the central region, while it can be large for small invaria nt masses and forward or backward rapidities. A simple formula based on the equivalent photon approximation and applications to a possible scenario at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider are also given.