Total $π^+ p$ cross section extracted from the leading neutron spectra at the LHC

V. A. Khoze; A. D. Martin; M. G. Ryskin

doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.96.034018

paper

Total $π^{+} p$ cross section extracted from the leading neutron spectra at the LHC

arXiv:1705.03685 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.96.034018

Abstract

We use the very forward neutron energy spectra measured by the Large Hadron Collider forward (LHCf) experiment at 7 TeV to extract the $π^{+} p$ total cross section at centre-of-mass energies in the range 2.3 $-$ 3.5 TeV. To do this we have to first isolate the $π$ -exchange pole in forward neutron production in $pp$ collisions, by evaluating other possible contributions. Namely, those from $ρ$ and $a_{2}$ exchange, from both eikonal and enhanced screening effects, from migration, from neutron production by $Δ$ -isobar decay and from diffractive nucleon excitations. We discuss the possible theoretical uncertainties due to the fact that the data do not exactly reach the $π$ pole. We choose the kinematical domain where the pion contribution dominates and demonstrate the role of the different corrections which could affect the final result.

21 pages, 6 figures, text improved, version to be published in Phys. Rev. D

Total $π^{+} p$ cross section extracted from the leading neutron spectra at the LHC

Abstract

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Total $π^{+} p$ cross section extracted from the leading neutron spectra at the LHC