Results are presented from experiment WA7 at the CERN SPS, which has measured the elastic differential cross sections of π ± p, K ± p, p p and pp at incident momen ta of 20, 30 and 50 GeV/ c . The measurements cover the momentum transfer range 0.5 < | t | < 8 (GeV/ c ) 2 , corresponding to c.m. scattering angles between 10° and 50°. The experimental set-up, trigger logic and data analysis are described. The experimental results are compared with existing meson-proton and nucleon-proton data at lower and higher energies covering the medium- and large-| t | region. Some prominent models and their predictions for elastic scattering at WA7 energies and beyond are reviewed, with emphasis on geometrical scaling, factorizing eikonal models, lowest-order QCD and other dynamical exchange-type models. Results for p p two-body annihilation into π − π + and K − K + at 30 and 50 GeV/ c , obtained in parallel with the elastic p p data, are also presented.

A measurement of the proton-proton elastic differential cross section at 50 GeV/ c incident momentum in the momentum transfer range 0.8<| t |<4.0 (GeV/ c ) 2 is presented. The data are compared to pp data at lower and higher energies, and to some model predictions.

We measured the differential cross section for p̄p and pp elastic scattering in the momentum-transfer range 0.01 <| t | < 1.0 GeV 2 at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings with center-of-mass energy s = 52.8 GeV . Fitting the differential cross section with an exponential [ A exp ( bt )], we found b p p = 13.92 ± 0.59 GeV −2 for | t | < 0.05 GeV 2 , whilst for | t | > 0.09 GeV 2 , b p p = 10.68 ± 0.26 GeV −2 . Using the optical theorem, we obtained for the total cross section σ tot ( p p)= 44.86 ± 0.78 mb and, by integrating the differential cross section, we obtained for the total elastic cross section σ el ( p p) = 7.89 ± 0.28 mb . Calculations of σ tot combining elastic-rate and total-rate measurements are also given. All of these measurements were also performed for pp scattering at the same energy, and the results for both reactions are compared.

We measured the elastic scattering of αα at s = 126 GeV and of α p at s = 89 GeV . For αα , the differential cross section d σ /d t has a diffractive pattern minima at | t | = 0.10 and 0.38 GeV 2 . At small | t | = 0.05−0.07 GeV 2 , this cross section behaves like exp[(100 ± 10) t ]. Extrapolating a fit to the data to the optical point, we obtained for the total cross section α tot ( αα ) = 250 ± 50 mb and an integrated elastic cross section σ e1 ( αα ) = 45 ± mb. Another method of estimating σ tot ( αα ), based on measuring the interaction rate, yielded 295 ± 40 mb. For α p, d σ /d t has aminimum at | t | = 0.20 GeV 2 , and for 0.05 < | t | < 0.18 GeV 2 behaves like exp[(41 ± 2) t ]. Extrapolating this slope to | t | = 0, we found σ tot ( α p) = 130 ± 20 and σ e1 ( α p) = 20 ± 4mb. Results on pp elastic scattering at s = 63 GeV agree with previous ISR experiments.

Proton-proton elastic scattering has been measured by the TOTEM experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at {\surd}s = 7 TeV in dedicated runs with the Roman Pot detectors placed as close as seven times the transverse beam size (sbeam) from the outgoing beams. After careful study of the accelerator optics and the detector alignment, |t|, the square of four-momentum transferred in the elastic scattering process, has been determined with an uncertainty of d t = 0.1GeV p|t|. In this letter, first results of the differential cross section are presented covering a |t|-range from 0.36 to 2.5GeV2. The differential cross-section in the range 0.36 < |t| < 0.47 GeV2 is described by an exponential with a slope parameter B = (23.6{\pm}0.5stat {\pm}0.4syst)GeV-2, followed by a significant diffractive minimum at |t| = (0.53{\pm}0.01stat{\pm}0.01syst)GeV2. For |t|-values larger than ~ 1.5GeV2, the cross-section exhibits a power law behaviour with an exponent of -7.8_\pm} 0.3stat{\pm}0.1syst. When compared to predictions based on the different available models, the data show a strong discriminative power despite the small t-range covered.

At the LHC energy of $\sqrt s = 7\,{\mathrm { TeV}}$ , under various beam and background conditions, luminosities, and Roman Pot positions, TOTEM has measured the differential cross-section for proton-proton elastic scattering as a function of the four-momentum transfer squared t. The results of the different analyses are in excellent agreement demonstrating no sizeable dependence on the beam conditions. Due to the very close approach of the Roman Pot detectors to the beam center (≈5σ(beam)) in a dedicated run with β* = 90 m, |t|-values down to 5·10(−)(3) GeV(2) were reached. The exponential slope of the differential elastic cross-section in this newly explored |t|-region remained unchanged and thus an exponential fit with only one constant B = (19.9 ± 0.3) GeV(−)(2) over the large |t|-range from 0.005 to 0.2 GeV(2) describes the differential distribution well. The high precision of the measurement and the large fit range lead to an error on the slope parameter B which is remarkably small compared to previous experiments. It allows a precise extrapolation over the non-visible cross-section (only 9%) to t = 0. With the luminosity from CMS, the elastic cross-section was determined to be (25.4 ± 1.1) mb, and using in addition the optical theorem, the total pp cross-section was derived to be (98.6 ± 2.2) mb. For model comparisons the t-distributions are tabulated including the large |t|-range of the previous measurement (TOTEM Collaboration (Antchev G. et al), EPL, 95 (2011) 41001).

The TOTEM experiment has made a precise measurement of the elastic proton-proton differential cross-section at the centre-of-mass energy sqrt(s) = 8 TeV based on a high-statistics data sample obtained with the beta* = 90 optics. Both the statistical and systematic uncertainties remain below 1%, except for the t-independent contribution from the overall normalisation. This unprecedented precision allows to exclude a purely exponential differential cross-section in the range of four-momentum transfer squared 0.027 < |t| < 0.2 GeV^2 with a significance greater than 7 sigma. Two extended parametrisations, with quadratic and cubic polynomials in the exponent, are shown to be well compatible with the data. Using them for the differential cross-section extrapolation to t = 0, and further applying the optical theorem, yields total cross-section estimates of (101.5 +- 2.1) mb and (101.9 +- 2.1) mb, respectively, in agreement with previous TOTEM measurements.

The proton-proton elastic differential cross section ${\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d}t$ has been measured by the TOTEM experiment at $\sqrt{s}=2.76$ TeV energy with $\beta^{*}=11$ m beam optics. The Roman Pots were inserted to 13 times the transverse beam size from the beam, which allowed to measure the differential cross-section of elastic scattering in a range of the squared four-momentum transfer ($|t|$) from $0.36$ GeV$^{2}$ to $0.74$ GeV$^{2}$. The differential cross-section can be described with an exponential in the $|t|$-range between $0.36$ GeV$^{2}$ and $0.54$ GeV$^{2}$, followed by a diffractive minimum (dip) at $|t_{\rm dip}| = 0.61 \pm 0.03$ GeV$^{2}$ and a subsequent maximum (bump). The ratio of the ${\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d}t$ at the bump and at the dip is $1.7\pm 0.2$. When compared to the $\rm p\bar{p}$ measurement of the D0 experiment at $\sqrt s = 1.96$ TeV, a significant difference can be observed. Under the condition that the effects due to the energy difference between TOTEM and D0 can be neglected, the result provides evidence for a colourless 3-gluon bound state exchange in the $t$-channel of the proton-proton elastic scattering.

The TOTEM collaboration has measured the elastic proton-proton differential cross section ${\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d}t$ at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV LHC energy using dedicated $\beta^{*}=90$ m beam optics. The Roman Pot detectors were inserted to 10$\sigma$ distance from the LHC beam, which allowed the measurement of the range $[0.04$ GeV$^{2};4 $GeV$^{2}] $ in four-momentum transfer squared $|t|$. The efficient data acquisition allowed to collect about 10$^{9}$ elastic events to precisely measure the differential cross-section including the diffractive minimum (dip), the subsequent maximum (bump) and the large-$|t|$ tail. The average nuclear slope has been found to be $B=(20.40 \pm 0.002^{\rm stat} \pm 0.01^{\rm syst})~$GeV$^{-2}$ in the $|t|$-range $0.04~$GeV$^{2}$ to $0.2~$GeV$^{2}$. The dip position is $|t_{\rm dip}|=(0.47 \pm 0.004^{\rm stat} \pm 0.01^{\rm syst})~$GeV$^{2}$. The differential cross section ratio at the bump vs. at the dip $R=1.77\pm0.01^{\rm stat}$ has been measured with high precision. The series of TOTEM elastic pp measurements show that the dip is a permanent feature of the pp differential cross-section at the TeV scale.

The TOTEM experiment at the CERN LHC has measured elastic proton-proton scattering at the centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV and four-momentum transfers squared, |t|, from 6 x $10^{-4}$ GeV$^2$ to 0.2 GeV$^2$. Near the lower end of the |t|-interval the differential cross-section is sensitive to the interference between the hadronic and the electromagnetic scattering amplitudes. This article presents the elastic cross-section measurement and the constraints it imposes on the functional forms of the modulus and phase of the hadronic elastic amplitude. The data exclude the traditional Simplified West and Yennie interference formula that requires a constant phase and a purely exponential modulus of the hadronic amplitude. For parametrisations of the hadronic modulus with second- or third-order polynomials in the exponent, the data are compatible with hadronic phase functions giving either central or peripheral behaviour in the impact parameter picture of elastic scattering. In both cases, the $\rho$-parameter is found to be 0.12 $\pm$ 0.03. The results for the total hadronic cross-section are $\sigma_{tot}$ = (102.9 $\pm$ 2.3) mb and (103.0 $\pm$ 2.3) mb for central and peripheral phase formulations, respectively. Both are consistent with previous TOTEM measurements.

The TOTEM experiment at the LHC has performed the first measurement at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV of the $\rho$ parameter, the real to imaginary ratio of the nuclear elastic scattering amplitude at $t=0$, obtaining the following results: $\rho = 0.09 \pm 0.01$ and $\rho = 0.10 \pm 0.01$, depending on different physics assumptions and mathematical modelling. The unprecedented precision of the $\rho$ measurement, combined with the TOTEM total cross-section measurements in an energy range larger than 10 TeV (from 2.76 to 13 TeV), has implied the exclusion of all the models classified and published by COMPETE. The $\rho$ results obtained by TOTEM are compatible with the predictions, from alternative theoretical models both in the Regge-like framework and in the QCD framework, of a colourless 3-gluon bound state exchange in the $t$-channel of the proton-proton elastic scattering. On the contrary, if shown that the 3-gluon bound state $t$-channel exchange is not of importance for the description of elastic scattering, the $\rho$ value determined by TOTEM would represent a first evidence of a slowing down of the total cross-section growth at higher energies. The very low-$|t|$ reach allowed also to determine the absolute normalisation using the Coulomb amplitude for the first time at the LHC and obtain a new total proton-proton cross-section measurement $\sigma_{tot} = 110.3 \pm 3.5$ mb, completely independent from the previous TOTEM determination. Combining the two TOTEM results yields $\sigma_{tot} = 110.5 \pm 2.4$ mb.

The TOTEM collaboration at the CERN LHC has measured the differential cross-section of elastic proton-proton scattering at $\sqrt{s} = 8\ {\rm TeV}$ in the squared four-momentum transfer range $0.2\ {\rm GeV^{2}} < |t| < 1.9\ {\rm GeV^{2}}$. This interval includes the structure with a diffractive minimum ("dip") and a secondary maximum ("bump") that has also been observed at all other LHC energies, where measurements were made. A detailed characterisation of this structure for $\sqrt{s} = 8\ {\rm TeV}$ yields the positions, $|t|_{\rm dip} = (0.521 \pm 0.007)\ {\rm GeV^2}$ and $|t|_{\rm bump} = (0.695 \pm 0.026)\ {\rm GeV^2}$, as well as the cross-section values, ${{\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d} t}_{\rm dip} = (15.1 \pm 2.5)\ {\rm{\mu b/GeV^2}}$ and ${{\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d} t}_{\rm bump} = (29.7 \pm 1.8)\ {\rm{\mu b/GeV^2}}$, for the dip and the bump, respectively.

Elastic scattering, single-pion and deuteron production have been investigated. The cross-section for elastic scattering is σelastic = (13.5±0.3) mb. The angular distribution has been fitted to dσ/d|t|=(dσ/d|t|)0 e −bt in the region of low values oft. The best fit givesb=(6.7±0.5) (GeV/c)−2 and (dσ/d|t|)0=(91±5) mb(GeV/c)−2. The cross-sections for ppπ0, pnπ+ reactions are respectively (2.6±0.3) mb and (9.7±0.4) mb. These reactions are dominated by the (3/2, 3/2) nucleonpion isobar production and by forward backward collimation of the nucleons. The production rates for the isobars ++1238 , +1238 , +1500 have been estimated, taking into account the experimental peripheral behaviour of the interaction. In the pnπ+ reaction they are (50±2)%; (10±3)%; (4±3)%. In the ppπ+ reaction the production of ++1238 is estimated to be (45±10)%. The dπ+ and dπ+π+π- reaction cross-sections are respectively (0.03±0.01) mb, and (0.04±0.01) mb.

The Fermilab hybrid 30-in. bubble-chamber spectrometer was exposed to a tagged 147-GeV/c positive beam containing π+, K+, and p. A sample of 3003 K+p, 19410 pp, and 20745 π+p interactions is used to derive σn, 〈n〉, f2cc, and 〈nc〉D for each beam particle. These values are compared to values obtained at other, mostly lower, beam momenta. The overall dependence of 〈n〉 on Ea, the available center-of-mass energy, for these three reactions as well as π−p and pp interactions has been determined.

The differential cross sections for elastic π − p, K − p , p p and π + p, pp scattering at 39 and 44.5 GeV/ c , respectively, have been measured in the interval of momentum transfer squared 0.15 ≤ ovbt | ≤ 2 (GeV/ c ) 2 .

Data are given for the polarization parameter and for the differential cross section in pp elastic scattering at 200 GeV/ c , in the range 0.5 ⪕−t ⪕ 4.0 GeV 2 . The polarization changes sign in the dip region, as already observed at 150 GeV/ c .

A detailed account is given of high-precision measurements of the total hadronic cross sections of proton-antiproton and proton-proton interactions at centre-of-mass energies of 30.6, 52.8 and 62.7 GeV. The experiment was performed at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR) using the total interaction-rate method, in which additive correction terms for trigger losses were held to less than 6% of the final result. An experimental determination of the vertical beam-displacement scale permitted luminosity-monitor calibrations to be made with high intrinsic accuracy. The overall precision (systematic and statistical errors combined) achieved in the total cross sections was ± 1.1% for proton-antiproton reactions and 0.7% for proton-proton reactions. In the proton-proton case the measurement was the most precise such measurement made at the ISR.

The polarization parameter in pp elastic scattering at 150 GeV/ c , and in the momentum transfer interval 0.4 ⩽ − t ⩽ 3.0 GeV 2 , has been measured in an MWPC and scintillation counter experiment at the CERN SPS using a polarized proton target. The polarization is decreasing steadily from zero to ≈ − 10% in the range 0.4 < − t < 1.3 GeV 2 ; for higher | t | the data suggests a change of sign. Results are also given for the differential cross section, which exhibits a small dip at − t = (1.46 ± 0.01) GeV.

Proton elastic scattering off a polarized proton target has been measured at 150 GeV/ c , in the |; t |-range 0.2–3.0 GeV 2 . The results on polarization and differential cross section are presented.

In a 35 000-picture exposure of the 30-in. hydrogen bubble chamber to a 300-GeV/c proton beam at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, 10054 interactions have been observed. The measured total cross section is $40.68 \pm 0.55$ mb, the elastic cross section is $7.89 \pm 0.52$ mb, and the average charged-particle multiplicity for inelastic events is $8.S0 \pm 0.12$.

Angular distributions of π + and K + p elastic scattering have been measured for an incident beam momentum of 10.0 GeV/ c . For π + p elastic scattering almost the complete angular distribution was measured. The angular distribution of proton-proton elastic scattering was measured for an incident momentum of 9.0 GeV/ c in the interval of the four-momentum transfer squared from 0.7 (GeV/ c ) 2 to 5.0 (GeV/ v ) 2 . For π + p elastic scattering the structures at − t = 2.8 (GeV/ c ) 2 and − t = 4.8 (GeV/ c ) 2 are less pronounced than at lower momenta. The cross section for scattering at 90° in the c.m. system is of the order of 1 nb/GeV/ c ) 2 . For K + p elastic scattering is a break in the angular distribution around − t = 3 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The differential cross sections for proton-proton elastic scattering decrease smoothly with increasing momentum transfers.

Proton-proton and proton-deuteron elastic scattering has been measured for incident laboratory energy from 50 to 400 GeV; minimum |t| values were, for p−p, 0.0005 (GeV/c)2, and for p−d, 0.0008 (GeV/c)2. From the differential cross sections we have determined the ratios of the real to imaginary parts of the forward scattering amplitude, ρpp and ρpd, for p−p and p−d scattering. Using a Glauber approach and a sum-of-exponentials form factor we obtain ρpn for p−n scattering.