Semihard interactions at high energies

Abstract

We revisit a minijet model to examine the behavior of the total cross section, $\ddot{I}{ƒ}_{tot}$, and the ratio of the real to imaginary parts of the scattering amplitude, $\ddot{I}$, at high energies. In this framework, the growth of $\ddot{I}{ƒ}_{tot}$ in $pp$ and $\bar{p}p$ channels is driven by semihard partonic processes dominated by gluon interactions. The QCD contribution to $\ddot{I}{ƒ}_{tot}$ for the jet production is computed in the next-to-leading order. We analyze data separately from the TOTEM and ATLAS/ALFA Collaborations and find evidence in both cases suggesting the necessity of an odd semihard component that becomes asymptotically significant at high energies.

4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Presented at "Diffraction and Low-x 2024", Trabia (Palermo, Italy), September 8-14, 2024