We present a measurement of the elastic differential cross section $d\sigma(p\bar{p}\rightarrow p\bar{p})/dt$ as a function of the four-momentum-transfer squared t. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $\approx 31 nb^{-1}$ collected with the D0 detector using dedicated Tevatron $p\bar{p} $ Collider operating conditions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV and covers the range $0.26 <|t|< 1.2 GeV^2$. For $|t|<0.6 GeV^2$, d\sigma/dt is described by an exponential function of the form $Ae^{-b|t|}$ with a slope parameter $ b = 16.86 \pm 0.10(stat) \pm 0.20(syst) GeV^{-2}$. A change in slope is observed at $|t| \approx 0.6 GeV^2$, followed by a more gradual |t| dependence with increasing values of |t|.
Differential cross sections for p p elastic scattering have been measured for very small momentum transfers at six different incident antiproton momenta in the range 3.7 to 6.2 GeV/c by the detection of recoil protons at scattering angles close to 90°. Forward scattering parameters σ T , b , and ϱ have been determined. For the ϱ-parameter, up to an order of magnitude higher level of precision has been achieved compared to that in earlier experiments. It is found that existing dispersion theory predictions are in disagreement with our results for the ϱ-parameter.