Simple Model for Total Cross Sections

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that simple pole models, inspired by Donnachie and Landshoff, effectively fit total, elastic, and diffractive scattering cross sections for $pp$ and ${ar p}p$, with a detailed statistical analysis of parameter uncertainties.

Contribution

It shows that simple pole exchanges can successfully describe high-energy scattering data and provides a careful statistical assessment of key parameters like the pomeron intercept.

Findings

Successful fits of simple pole models to scattering data

Pomeron intercept estimated between 1.07 and 1.11

Preferred pomeron intercept value of 1.096

Abstract

Adopting the philosophy \`a la Donnachie and Landshoff that simple pole exchanges could account for all data of total, elastic and diffractive scattering cross sections to present energies, we show that such simple pole fits to $pp$ and ${\bar p}p$ total cross sections are indeed very successful. We assess the uncertainties of the various parameters by making careful statistical analysis of the data and their correlations. In particular, the pomeron intercept which controls total cross sections and the real part of the elastic amplitude at high energies is shown to lie anywhere between 1.07 and 1.11, with a preferred value 1.096.