Recent LHC/TOTEM data challenging the standard Regge pole theory

Abstract

We analyse the recently discovered phenomena in elastic protonproton scattering at the LHC: the low-|t| “break” (departure from the exponential behaviour of the diffraction cone), the accelerating rise with energy of the forward slope B(s), the absence of secondary dips and bumps on the cone and the role of the odderon in the forward phase of the amplitude, ρ(13 TeV) = 0:09 ± 0:01, especially its contribution at the dip region, measured recently by TOTEM. The dip at 13 TeV seems to become more shallow with respect to lower energies, and we attribute this important new phenomena to the odderon contribution. These findings call for a revision of the standeard Regge-pole theory.

Analysis and implications of precision near-forward TOTEM data

“…Further evidence that TOTEM results do not force the existence of a C = −1 contribution in the CNI region can be found in a recent paper by Jenkovszky and co-workers [28]. It is to be hoped that further TOTEM differential cross section data (not just total cross section data) covering a larger t interval would help resolve this issue.…”