Measurement of elastic ω photoproduction at HERA ZEUS Collaboration

The reaction γp →ωp(ω → π⁺π^?π⁰ and π⁰ → γ γ) has been studied in ep interactions using the ZEUS detector at photon-proton centre-of-mass energies between 70 and 90GeV and ∣t∣ < 0.6GeV², where t is the squared four momentum transferred at the proton vertex. The elastic ω photoproduction cross section has been measured to be σ_{γp → ωp} = 1.21 ±0.12 ±0.23 μb. The differential cross section dσ_γp→ωp/d¦t¦ has an exponential shape e^?b∣t∣ with a slope b =10.0 ± 1.2 ± 1.3 GeV^?2. The angular distributions of the decay pions are consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. When compared to low energy data, the features of ω photoproduction as measured at HERA energies are in agreement with those of a soft diffractive process. Previous measurements of the ρ⁰ and ? photoproduction cross sections at HERA show a similar behaviour.     

Regge pole and cut behaviour at Fermilab energies

Prompted by some unusual features of the np charge-exchange cross sections recently measured at Fermilab, we study this process over the entire energy range in an attempt to clarify its exchange amplitude structure. Comparison with all the other two-body processes so far measured at Fermilab (π^?p → π⁰n, νn, ω⁰n and elastic scattering) allows one to draw useful conclusions concerning the required J-plane structure of Regge cut models. We show that the shrinkage properties and helicity dependence of Regge cuts must be more complicated than current models suggest. We also present evidence that the Williams (or “poor man's absorption”) model for π exchange is incorrect at high energies.     

Experimental tests of the factorisation of Regge trajectories in the proton fragmentation region

We present double differential cross sections for the reactions K^? + p → π^± + anything at 8.25 GeV/c. Using published data for reactions K⁺ + p→ π^? + anything and p + p → π⁺ anything we predict the differential cross sections for γ + p → π^? + anything, π^? + p → π^? + anything and π^? + p → π⁺ + anything in the target fragmentation region based on factorisation of the pomeron and Regge trajectories. Our predictions agree with the experimental data and support the hypothesis of factorisation of the Regge trajectories in the target fragmentation region.     

Regge analysis and dual absorptive model for γN → πN, γN → ηN and related processes

We present a combined Regge-pole Regge-cut analysis of γN → π^oN, γN → ηN and of certain processes related by vector dominance. The magnitude of Regge cuts is constrained to satisfy the requirements of the dual absorptive model. Calculations in terms of the weak cut model are also presented and ways to experimentally distinguish between these two models are discussed. The structure of the real and imaginary parts of the amplitudes is also analyzed.     

Exchange-component analysis of neutral pseudoscalar meson photoproduction

π⁰ and η photoproduction data in the region of 4 GeV are decomposed into t-channel exchange components of definite isospin and parity. The latter are discussed in terms of Regge exchange models and compared to vector-meson dominance related processes. The isospin-one natural parity-exchange component is smooth and structureless. The dominant unatural parity exchange in π⁰ photoproduction has isospin zero. As in π^± photoproduction the ratio of natural to unnatural parity exchange is found to be larger than the vector-dominance expectation. Complementary information from a recent spin decomposition of γp → π⁰p gives further insight into the SU (3) properties of the exchanges. We predict unmeasured quantities and stress, in particular, the importance of studying γn → π⁰n with polarised photons.     

Inclusive π0 and η production in the all neutral mode from 100 GeV/cπ−p collisions

Results are givenfor π⁰ and η production in 100 GeV/cπ^?p collisions, summed over all final states with no charged particles present (the all neutral final states). The data are fitted for x?0.6 to a modification of triple Regge theory suggested by the multiperipheral model. We find good agreement between the values of the ? and A₂ trajectories determined in the all neutral process, the full inclusive mode, π^?p → (π⁰, η)X, and the exclusive reactions, π^?p → (π⁰, η)n. The ? exchange residue function shows evidence for a dip at t ≈ ?0.5 (GeV/c)² (the ? wrong signature nonsense zero), whereas the η data are quite smooth in this region. These successful predictions for both the trajectory and residue function are striking evidence for the validity of triple Regge theory.     

The reaction π−p→π0n at high energies

In connection with recent experimental data we consider the properties of the reaction π^?p→π⁰n using Regge-cut theory.     

Axial vector meson production

Recently available differential cross section and density matrix information on π^?p → B^?p at 4 GeV/c are successfully described in terms of t channel exchanges and s channel absorptive effects. The s channel helicity amplitude which is dominant at small |t| (zero net helicity flip ω exchange) is found to have a zero at ?t = 0.2 GeV². SU(3) and higher symmetries are used to predict cross sections for further axial vector meson production processes, in particular non-diffractive A₁ production. The importance of these processes with regard to Regge phenomenology and meson spectroscopy is emphasized.     

Double Regge exchange phenomenology

We construct a double Regge exchange amplitude which has the proper analytic structure and which is phenomenologically viable. The various couplings involved can be estimated using pole extrapolation techniques which are successful in two-body scattering. We explicitly calculate the double Regge exchange contributions to the well-measured, and related, processes K^±p → K⁰π^±p and π^?p → K^?K⁰p. In this way the observed features of the dimeson partial-wave production amplitudes are used to text the double-exchange approach.     

Determination of the longitudinal and the transverse part in π+ electroproduction

We report on an experiment where the different contributions from the transverse and longitudinal polarization of the virtual photon are measured separately for the reaction e^?p→e^?π⁺n. The data taken above the resonance region at small ∣t∣ values in the q² range of ∣q²∣ < 0.5 GeV² show a clear dominance of the longitudinal part of the cross section and are well described by a generalized Born-term model. Using this model the electromagnetic form factor of the pion is determined. At q² = ?0.35 GeV² one gets F_π = 0.598 ± 0.021.     

Applications of Mueller theory of two-particle inclusive processes

Assuming factorization, and extracting inclusive Reggeon vertices from one-particle inclusive data, we predict Regge corrections to scaling for several two-particle inclusive processes. The data on p + P → π^? + π^? + X, K⁺ + p → π^? + π^? + X, K^? + p → π⁺ + π^? + X, and π⁺ + p → π^? + π^? + X agree with our predictions.     

Regge theory and QCD in large-angle scattering

We argue that exclusive processes whose cross-sections are determined by Regge pole trajectory exchanges, α(t), at small momentum transfers (t), are controlled by these same exchanges at very large |t| too. The analysis is based on a Reggeized version of the constituent interchange model (CIM), which predicts that α(t)→?1 ast→?∞, and that the asymptotic form of the Regge residues is fixed by the dimensional counting rules and CIM constraints. Between the two regimes of soft and hard scattering there is an intermediate region where Regge cuts are important, but these higher-twist effects die away as |t| is increased. We show that this hypothesis is consistent with high energy nucleon-nucleon and pion-nucleon scattering at all angles.     

ω Production in the reaction π−p → π+π−π0n at 8 and 12 GeV/c

The reaction π^?p → ωn has been studied at 8 and 12 GeV/c incident momenta with the CERN Omega spectrometer using a neutron time of flight trigger. The differential cross sections and the ω-decay density matrix elements are presented as functions of the momentum transfer squared ?t in the range of 0.02 to 0.80 GeV². The data are used to evaluate the intercept and slope of both the natural and unnatural parity exchange trajectories. Regge exchange amplitude factorisation tests involving the reaction πN → ωN are investigated.     

Two body reactions and the quark model

A simple quark model for two-body hadronic amplitudes is presented and applied to pp ($\text{p}\text{p}$) and K^±p elastic scattering. Hadronic processes are described in terms of quark-quark scattering, using Glauber theory to take into account the effects of multiple scattering. Exchange degenerate Regge poles are introduced at the quark level. A predictive model for Regge cuts is obtained. It has some features in common with the dual absorption model in its correlation of dip structure and shrinkage in elastic processes with the exoticity of the s-channel but also significant differences, for example in the interpretation of the $\text{p}\text{p}$ dip. The qualitatively different structure in the pp differential cross section is also reproduced. It breaks exchange degeneracy in a well-defined way and in doing so offers an explanation of the differences between pp and K⁺p total cross sections. The difference in their differential cross sections is a natural consequence of the model and structure similar to the pp structure is predicted to appear in the K⁺p differential cross section in the region t ≈ ?2(GeV/c)².     

Elementary scalar mesons and Regge poles

We show, for the annihilation amplitude of π⁺π^? → two vector mesons, that parity conservation and rotational symmetry demand the existence of a triplet of Regge singularities crossing at t = 0. In the usual scalar-vector field theory, calculations of the leading terms of this amplitude up to the eight order show that these singularities are moving Regge poles. Contrary to common belief, the elementary scalar meson lies on one of them.     

Shielded fixed-pole Pomeranchon model for high energy total and differential cross sections

A Regge model with a fixed-pole Pomeranchon and its associated shielding cut is used for π^±p, K^±p and pp scattering at small t and from 6 GeV to NAL and ISR energies. No additional parameters are associated with the cut. The model produces rising total cross sections and anti-shrinkage or non-shrinking diffraction peaks for some s and t. Good fits to total cross sections and to Serpukhov and ISR pp slope parameter data are obtained, and predictions about cross sections and shrinkage at NAL energies are made.     

Proton-proton scattering and the pomeron

We describe various attempts to fit the data on pp and $\text{p}\text{p}$ elastic scattering and total cross sections, including the recent ISR data, with a variety of Regge pole and cut models. Only two types of model are able to explain the data over the whole energy range satisfactorily. The simplest of these has no cuts, but a pomeron pole with trajectory αp(0) = 1.06 + 0.25 t, and a non-shrinking “core” term at large |t|. The other has a flat trajectory, αp(t) = 1.06 for all t, and strong eikonal-model cuts which explain both the shrinkage at low |t|, and the lack of it at larger |t|. We also briefly review various speculations which relate the fact that αp(0) > 1 to the small triple-pomeron coupling.     

Asymptotic properties of regge trajectories and elastic pseudoscalar-meson scattering on nucleons at high energies

A phenomenological Regge-eikonal model featuring nonlinear monotonic parametrizations of vacuum Regge trajectories, where their asymptotic behavior in the perturbative sector is taken explicitly into account, is proposed for describing the elastic diffractive scattering of light pseudoscalar mesons on nucleons. In analyzing available experimental data on angular distributions, it is shown that, at collision energies in the region √s > 13 GeV, the diffraction pattern of the processes π ^± p → π ^± p and K ^± p → K ^± p at low momentum transfers can be described qualitatively by using the same phenomenological approximations to vacuum Regge trajectories as in the case of nucleon-nucleon scattering. This fact is indicative of the possibility of explicitly relating Regge phenomenology of various hadron-hadron processes to fundamental results obtained within QCD.