Energy dependence of diffraction maxima, interaction radius and absorption of the proton

For a large class of models, the behaviour with increasing energy of the proton-proton diffraction maxima determines the corresponding behaviour of the interaction radius and the absorption A0 of the proton at zero impact parameter. Present experiments imply an increase of the interaction radius and indicate a moderate increase of the absorption A0 through the 0ERN-ISR energy range. (Auth.)