The pomeron-particle total cross section and diffractive production of showers at very high energies

The experimental data of ISR and NAL for the process pp → pX are used for the determination of the pomeron-particle total cross section and the triple-pomeron vertex. Estimates of the cross sections of the diffractive production of one and several showers of particles are given. It is shown that at s ～ 10³ GeV² the cross section of all inelastic diffractive processes is ～ 6 mb and grows with energy. A theoretical estimate of the amplitude of pomeron-pomeron scattering is given.