Low energy scattering data and phase shifts

We point out that at any given low energyσ _tot and a ratio of integrated scattering data likeF/B can, in principle, be used unambiguously to finds-andp-wave phase shifts. Thus efforts to obtain other low energy data like elastic dσ/dΩ andP/E are unnecessary. It is also indicated that the mere knowledge whetherF/B is greater than or less than unity enables us to draw important conclusions about the nature of the interaction in thep-state without performing detailed calculations. Thus a strong case is made out for obtaining much more preciseF/B data than are presently available. The discussion refers mainly to low energy ∧p scattering data.