Does the Pomeron have two components?

Abstract

Experimental total and differential elastic cross sections are in remarkable agreement with the ansatz that the Pomeron contribution satisfies the relation P(π p) = ( 1 2 )P( Kp) + ( 1 3 )P( pp) weaker than the quark model relation P(π p) = P( KP) = ( 2 3 )P( pp) and following from the assumption that the Pomeron has a second component satisfying the relation P(π p) = 2P( KP) = ( 4 9 )P( pp) . Sum rules obtained from this ansatz are satisfied to an accuracy of 1% by total cross section data from 6 to 200 GeV/ c where the quark model relation has a consistent discrepancy of 15%. They are satisfied to better than 20% for differential cross section data at 3, 3.6, 5, 6 and 42 GeV/ c over a range of t where cross sections change by several orders of magnitude and the ratio of Kp and pp amplitudes varies from 2 5 to 5 and violates the simple quark model prediction of 2 3 by large factors in both directions.