Small-Angle Elastic Proton-Proton Scattering from 25 to 200 GeV

Abstract

We have measured the differential cross section for small angle $p\ensuremath{-}p$ scattering from 25 to 200 GeV incident energy and in the momentum transfer range $0.015<|t|<0.080 {(\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c})}^{2}$. We find that the slope of the forward diffraction peak, $b(s)$, increases with energy and can be fitted by the form $b(s)={b}_{0}+2{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ lns, where ${b}_{0}=8.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.3$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0.28\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.13 {(\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c})}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. Such dependence is compatible with the data existing both at higher and lower energies. We have also obtained the energy dependence of the $p\ensuremath{-}p$ total cross section in the energy range from 48 to 196 GeV. Within our errors which are \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.1 mb the total cross section remains constant.