Geometry of spin effects in proton-proton scattering.

Abstract

In proton-proton elastic scattering, the rapid rise in the spin-spin correlation ${A}_{\mathrm{nn}}$ at large angles may be understood from a simple geometry of central, spin-orbit, and spin-spin interactions. A spin-orbit interaction that decreases more rapidly with the impact parameter than the spin-spin interaction guarantees a rise in ${A}_{\mathrm{nn}}$ even when both contribute negligible amounts to the forward diffraction peak. The combination of interactions also accounts for the differential cross section. Sample calculations are compared to data at 12 GeV/c.