Shape of proton and the pion cloud

Abstract

Proton-proton differential and total cross sections provide information on the energy dependence of proton shape and size. We show that the deviation from exponential behavior of the diffraction cone observed near t = -0.1 GeV2 the so-called break) both at the ISR and the LHC follows from the t-channel two-pion loop contributions, imposed by unitarity. By using a simple Regge pole model, we extrapolate the “break” from the ISR energy region to that of the LHC. This allows us to answer two important questions: 1) To what extent is the “break” observed recently at the LHC a “recurrence” of that seen at the ISR (universality)? 2) What is the relative weight of two-pion effect to the vertex coupling (Regge residue) compared to expanding size (pomeron propagator) in producing the “break”? We find that the effect comes both from the Regge residue (proton-pomeron coupling) and from the Regge propagator. A detailed analysis of their balance, including the correlation between the relevant parameters is presented.