# Small t elastic scattering and the rho parameter

## TL;DR

This paper uses Regge theory with a simple model to fit small-t elastic scattering data across a wide energy range, providing insights into the rho parameter and the potential odderon contribution.

## Contribution

It demonstrates that a 9-parameter Regge model can effectively describe elastic scattering data and suggests no strong evidence for an odderon contribution.

## Key findings

- Rho parameter is approximately 0.14 at 13 TeV.
- The model fits data well across energies from 13.76 GeV to 13 TeV.
- No strong evidence for odderon contribution in forward scattering.

## Abstract

A simple application of Regge theory, with 9 free parameters, provides a good fit to elastic scattering data at small t from 13.76 GeV to 13 TeV. It yields a value for rho, the ratio of the real part of the forward amplitude to its imaginary part, close to 0.14 at 13 TeV. Although the exact value obtained for rho is sensitive to what functional form is chosen for the fit, there is no strong case for the presence of an odderon contribution to forward scattering.