Investigations into the nature of the pomeron

Abstract

We investigate the nature of the Pomeranchukon (Pomeron P) singularity in the complex angular momentum plane. To distinguish between simple pole and branch point, we establish and test the factorization rule when Pomeron is exchanged in three particle final states. Further we predict results on the polarization states of resonances when definite parity for Pomeron-pole and mixtures of parities for Pomeron-cut is exchanged. To make comparison of the Pomeron trajectory with other low-lying meson trajectories, we also establish a factorization test for the Rho trajectory and compare it with experimental results. In Chapter I, we give a general review of Regge-pole theory and also show what difficulties we have with the Pomeron trajectory as compared to other ordinary trajectories. This chapter lays the groundwork, explains the problem, and serves as a motivation for the work which was undertaken. In Chapter II, factorization test for the Pomeron is suggested for reactions with three particle in the final states. It is applied to the available experimental data on πN→ ππN and NN→πNN and is found to be satisfied reasonably well. This gives one evidence that Pomeron is a simple pole. In Chapter III, we establish a direct test of factorization for the Rho and show from the experimental data, that there is a significant failure of the factorization and also mixture of parities is exchanged in the Rho dominated reactions. It is suggested that cuts play an Important part at high energy and indication exists that the Rho particle is a parity doublet.