Systematics of vector meson-proton scattering

The systematics of Vp scattering (V = ?, ω, φ, ψ) is studied using unitarity to relate the elastic and inelastic amplitudes. Assuming that φ and ψ are pure strange and charmed quark states, respectively, φp and ψp elastic amplitudes are shown, in the first approximation, to be generated by diffractive inelastic states. This leads to the relations B_ψ ≈ B_φ ≈ B_ω/2 ≈ B_?/2 for the elastic differential cross section slopes. The approximate m_V² is related to a similar suppression in inelastic Vp cross sections and, more speculatively, to the m_A² suppression of the hadronic production cross sections σ(pp → A).