Measurement of the differential cross section d\sigma/dt in elastic $p\bar{p}$ scattering at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a measurement of the elastic differential cross section in proton-antiproton scattering at 1.96 TeV, revealing a slope change at a specific momentum transfer value, providing insights into proton structure.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of dσ/dt over a range of |t| at Tevatron energies, highlighting a slope change in the differential cross section.

Findings

Exponential behavior of dσ/dt for |t|<0.6 GeV^2

Observed slope change at |t| ≈ 0.6 GeV^2

Gradual |t| dependence at higher |t|

Abstract

We present a measurement of the elastic differential cross section $d\sigma(p\bar{p}\rightarrow p\bar{p})/dt$ as a function of the four-momentum-transfer squared t. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $\approx 31 nb^{-1}$ collected with the D0 detector using dedicated Tevatron $p\bar{p} $ Collider operating conditions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV and covers the range $0.26 <|t|< 1.2 GeV^2$. For $|t|<0.6 GeV^2$, d\sigma/dt is described by an exponential function of the form $Ae^{-b|t|}$ with a slope parameter $ b = 16.86 \pm 0.10(stat) \pm 0.20(syst) GeV^{-2}$. A change in slope is observed at $|t| \approx 0.6 GeV^2$, followed by a more gradual |t| dependence with increasing values of |t|.