Taming the Energy Rise of the Total Proton-Proton Cross-Section

• Main Authors: Sergey Ostapchenko, Marcus Bleicher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
• Series: Universe
• Subjects: total cross-section; multiparton interactions; higher twist effects
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/5/5/106

Steep rise of parton densities in the limit of small parton momentum fraction <i>x</i> poses a challenge for describing the observed energy-dependence of the total and inelastic proton-proton cross sections <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msubsup> <mi>&#963;</mi> <mrow> <mi>p</mi> <mi>p</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mi>tot</mi> <mo>/</mo> <mi>inel</mi> </mrow> </msubsup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>: considering a realistic parton spatial distribution, one obtains a too-strong increase of <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msubsup> <mi>&#963;</mi> <mrow> <mi>p</mi> <mi>p</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mi>tot</mi> <mo>/</mo> <mi>inel</mi> </mrow> </msubsup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> in the limit of very high energies. We discuss various mechanisms which allow one to tame such a rise, paying special attention to the role of parton-parton correlations. In addition, we investigate a potential impact on model predictions for <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msubsup> <mi>&#963;</mi> <mrow> <mi>p</mi> <mi>p</mi> </mrow> <mi>tot</mi></msubsup></semantics></math></inline-formula>, related to dynamical higher twist corrections to parton-production processes.