Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2016) 131: 147
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2016-16147-x

Regular Article

Dependence of elastic hadron collisions on impact parameter

Institute of Physics of the AS CR, 18221, Prague 8, Czech Republic

^* e-mail: jiri.prochazka@fzu.cz

Received: 8 October 2015
Revised: 25 February 2016
Accepted: 5 April 2016
Published online: 12 May 2016

Abstract

Elastic proton-proton collisions represent probably the greatest ensemble of available measured data, the analysis of which may provide a large amount of new physical results concerning fundamental particles. It is, however, necessary to analyze first some conclusions concerning pp collisions and their interpretations differing fundamentally from our common macroscopic experience. It has been argued, e.g., that elastic hadron collisions have been more central than inelastic ones, even if any explanation of the existence of so different processes, i.e., elastic and inelastic (with hundreds of secondary particles) collisions, under the same conditions has not been given until now. The given conclusion has been based on a greater number of simplifying mathematical assumptions (already done in earlier calculations), without their influence on physical interpretation being analyzed and entitled; the corresponding influence has started to be studied in the approach based on the eikonal model. The possibility of a peripheral interpretation of elastic collisions will be demonstrated and the corresponding results summarized. The arguments will be given on why no preference may be given to the mentioned centrality against the standard peripheral behaviour. The corresponding discussion on the contemporary description of elastic hadronic collision in dependence on the impact parameter will be summarized and the justification of some important assumptions will be considered.