Proton-Proton Total Cross Sections and the Neglect of Masses in Data Fitting in the Regge Region

Abstract

It is shown by taking the example of pp total cross .sections that the use of the approximation s ~ 2qs-t while fitting data in the Regge region can be misleading. Several standard fits to O"tot(pp) data are based on the assumption of weak p-f-w-A2 exchange degeneracy (EXD). However, these fits involve the use of the approximation mentioned. We find, quite surprisingly, that it is impossible to fit the O"tot(pp) data in the range 6 ~ Plab ~ 2092 GeVjc using the precise factor 2qs~ in conjunction with weak p-f-w-A2 EXD. OUf investigation shows that O"tot(pp) data alone seem to indicate either a breaking of weak p-f-w-A 2 EXD or the presence of low-lying contributions, or both, provided one does not ignore the masses of the interacting particles in data fitting in the Regge region (Plab ;:;: 5 GeVjc). Caution is therefore urged in the use of such approximations in phenomenological calculations.