Effect of the Existence of an Elementary Quark on High-Energy Scattering

Abstract

An elementary quark, if supposed to exist and to couple in quark-antiquark pairs to ordinary two-particle channels, gives rise to a Regge trajectory which would dominate high-energy scattering at large momentum transfer. A simple model theory embodying these features is presented. Specifically, the model assumes a single scalar-scalar pair to represent the ordinary two-particle channel which is observed, coupled to a spinor-spinor channel of large mass, and simple pole-type potentials approximated in the effective-range method. The Regge trajectory and subtraction generated by this coupling are computed, and arguments are given concerning their contribution to the cross section. Comparison with proton-proton scattering suggests that if such an elementary particle exists, its mass must be greater than about 10 GeV.