Amplitudes and Observables in pp Elastic Scattering at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV

Abstract

A precise analysis of the pp elastic scattering data at 7 TeV in terms of its amplitudes is performed as an extension of previous studies for lower energies. Slopes $B_{R}$ and $B_{I}$ of the real and imaginary amplitudes are independent quantities, and a proper expression for the Coulomb phase is used. The real and imaginary amplitudes are fully disentangled, consistently with forward dispersion relations for amplitudes and for slopes. We present analytic expressions for the amplitudes that cover all $t$ range completely, while values of total cross section $\sigma$, ratio $\rho$, $B_{I}$ and $B_{R}$ enter consistently to describe forward scattering. It is stressed that the identification of the amplitudes is an essential step for the description of elastic scattering, and pointed out the importance of the experimental investigation of the transition range from non-perturbative to perturbative dynamics, that may confirm the three gluon exchange mechanism observed at lower energies.