Spin and Polarization in High-Energy Hadron-Hadron and Lepton-Hadron Scattering

Abstract

The role of spin degrees of freedom in high-energy hadron-hadron and lepton-hadron scattering is reviewed with emphasis on the dominant role of soft, diffractive, non-perturbative effects. Explicit models based on analyticity and Regge-pole theory, including the pomeron trajectory (gluon exchange in the $t$ channel) are discussed. We argue that there is a single, universal pomeron in Nature, manifest as relatively "soft" or "hard", depending on the kinematics considered. Regge trajectories are non-linear, complex functions, predicting a finite number of resonances. Explicit models and fits are presented that may be used in recovering generalized parton distributions from deeply virtual Compton scattering and electoproduction of vector mesons.