Single Virtual Particle Exchange Model of High-Energy Inelastic Glancing Collisions

Abstract

A general formulation, based upon the ideas of field theory, is given for the single virtual particle exchange model of high-energy inelastic glancing or "peripheral" collisions. The main assumption of the model is that there is a region of the final-state phase space in which the cross section is dominated by single virtual particle exchange graphs of a particular kind. A general discussion is given of the kinematics and of the region of applicability of the model. It is shown that, unlike the situation in elastic scattering, inelastic processes can occur with timelike momentum transfer, and an example in which this happens is discussed. The region in which it appears most reasonable to use the model is that characterized by final states which consist of two well-defined groups of particles. An argument based on unitarity is given which strongly suggests that the energy dependence of this part of the peripheral nucleon-nucleon cross section is less than logarithmic at very high energies.