Slope analysis for elastic proton-proton and proton-antiproton scattering

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the energy dependence of the diffraction slope in elastic proton-proton and proton-antiproton scattering using experimental data and various analytic models, providing predictions for future collider energies.

Contribution

It introduces a model-independent approach to approximate the energy dependence of the diffraction slope and compares different fitting functions across energy ranges.

Findings

Qualitative description of experimental slopes across energies

Differences in nuclear slopes for proton-proton and proton-antiproton scattering

Predictions for diffraction slopes at NICA, RHIC, and LHC energies

Abstract

The diffraction slope parameter is investigated for elastic proton-proton and proton-antiproton scattering based on the all available experimental data at intermediate square of momentum transfer in the main. Energy dependence of the elastic diffraction slope is approximated by various analytic functions in a model-independent fashion. The expanded standard logarithmic approximations allow to describe experimental slopes in all available energy range at qualitative level reasonably. Various fitting functions differ from each other both in low energy and very high energy domains. Predictions for diffraction slope parameter are obtained for elastic proton-proton scattering at NICA, RHIC and LHC energies, for proton-antiproton elastic reaction in FAIR energy domain for various approximation functions at intermediate square of momentum transfer. Difference of nuclear slopes for proton-antiproton and proton-proton scattering is investigated in wide momentum transfer range also.