ELASTIC-SCATTERING AT LARGE-T

Recent data for pp elastic scattering at large momentum transfer find a behaviour close to t-8, independent of energy, throughout the ISR energy range. This behaviour is in agreement with the triple-scattering model, proposed some years ago. If this interpretation is correct, it provides evidence that gluons have spin 1. The differential cross-sections for pp and p {Mathematical expression} elastic scattering are predicted to be equal at high energy, for values of t that are large but much less than s. The case of πp elastic scattering at large t is considered. It is shown that a multiple-scattering mechanism gives energy-independent behaviour at sufficiently high energy. We expect the cross-section to vary as t-7, but this conclusion is not as clear-cut as the t-8 behaviour for the pp case. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.