Lessons from LHC elastic and diffractive data

TL;DR

This paper analyzes high-energy elastic and diffractive data from the LHC using a one-pomeron model with multi-pomeron interactions, highlighting the importance of gluon transverse momentum behavior and data tensions.

Contribution

It introduces a model incorporating multi-pomeron interactions and a $k_t(s)$ behavior to better describe LHC elastic and diffractive scattering data.

Findings

Evidence for the need of $k_t(s)$ behavior in models

Identification of tensions in the data

Insights into the $t$ dependence of the slope of $d\sigma_{el}/dt$

Abstract

In the light of LHC data, we discuss the global description of all high energy elastic and diffractive data, using a one-pomeron model, but including multi-pomeron interactions. The LHC data indicate the need of a $k_t(s)$ behaviour, where $k_t$ is the gluon transverse momentum along the partonic ladder structure which describes the pomeron. We also discuss tensions in the data, as well as the $t$ dependence of the slope of $d\sigma_{el}/dt$ in the small $t$ domain.