Nucleon-Nucleon Total Cross Sections from 1.1 to 8 GeV/<i>c</i>

Abstract

Measurements have been made of the total cross sections $\ensuremath{\sigma}(p\ensuremath{-}p)$ and $\ensuremath{\sigma}(p\ensuremath{-}d)$ over the laboratory momentum range 1.1 to 8 GeV/c, with relative errors of 0.1%. The absolute accuracies of these cross sections are limited to 0.3% by lack of information which will allow the Coulomb-nuclear interference to be calculated accurately. Values of the total cross sections $\ensuremath{\sigma}(p\ensuremath{-}n)$ and $\ensuremath{\sigma}(I=0)$ are deduced by assuming the Glauber correction. Structure is observed in $\ensuremath{\sigma}(p\ensuremath{-}p)$ near a mass value of 2.75 GeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$; its interpretation is discussed. $\ensuremath{\sigma}(I=0)$ rises rapidly in the range 2.3 to 2.9 GeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$, and this is attributed to the onset of strong inelastic scattering.