Restrictions on pp scattering amplitude imposed by first diffraction minimum data obtained by TOTEM at LHC

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the constraints on the proton-proton scattering amplitude from the first diffraction minimum data at LHC, revealing limitations of the quasi-eikonal Regge model in reproducing the TOTEM measurements.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the standard quasi-eikonal Regge approach cannot fully explain the TOTEM data near the diffraction minimum, suggesting the need for model refinement.

Findings

The model cannot reproduce the diffraction minimum data at LHC.

Protons appear smaller and more absorptive ('black') at high energies.

Standard assumptions of the model are insufficient to match experimental observations.

Abstract

We present the systematic analysis of the behavior of elastic pp scattering cross section in the region of the diffraction peak and the first diffraction minimum in the framework of quasi-eikonal Gribov-Regge approach, taking into account the unitarity condition. We use the formalism taking into consideration the dependence of pomeron signature factor on $t$. We show that although in this approach one can describe the general features of pp scattering, the behavior of pp elastic differential cross section in the vicinity of the first diffraction minimum measured by the TOTEM experiment at LHC can not be reproduced under any parameter values at standard assumptions of the model. Physically, in the quasi-eikonal Regge approach the proton proved to be "gray" and rather large, whereas the TOTEM data indicate that it is smaller and closer to "black" at LHC energies.