Dip-Bump Structure in Proton’s Single Diffractive Dissociation at the Large Hadron Collider

Abstract

By extending the dipole Pomeron (DP) model, successful in describing elastic nucleon–nucleon scattering, to proton single diffractive dissociation (SD), we predict a dip-bump structure in the squared four-momentum transfer (t) distribution of proton’s SD. Structures in the t distribution of single diffractive dissociation are predicted around t=−4GeV2 at LHC energies in the range of 3 GeV2≲|t|≲ 7 GeV2. Apart from the dependence on s (total energy squared) and t (squared momentum transfer), we predict also a dependence on missing masses. We include the minimum set of Regge trajectories, namely the Pomeron and the Odderon, indispensable at the LHC. Further generalization, e.g., by the inclusion of non-leading Regge trajectories, is straightforward. The present model contains two types of Regge trajectories: those connected with t-channel exchanges (the Pomeron, the Odderon, and non-leading (secondary) reggeons) appearing at small and moderate −t, where they are real and nearly linear, as well as direct-channel trajectories α(M2) related to missing masses. In this paper, we concentrate on structures in t neglecting (for the time being) resonances in M2.