Regge models of hadronic elastic scattering at all angles

A Regge-based model for the elastic scattering of hadrons at all angles is developed, which combines the best features of a conventional Regge model with those of a quark interchange model. As t tends to -infinity the meson Regge trajectories approach negative integers, while their residues vary like negative integer powers of t, the sum of the two integers being such that the Dimensional Counting Rule is satisfied. Within this framework nucleon-nucleon differential cross sections, polarizations and spin correlation parameters, and π+-p differential cross-sections are studied. It is found that the Regge pole terms dominate for -t <= 1 (GeV/c)2; Regge cuts become important at intermediate t values, but at large angles the meson-Reggeons (with trajectories now approaching integers) re-emerge as the most important contributions. Fits are presented which give a good account of the experimental data at all angles for the pp, pn and pp differential cross-sections, polarizations and spin correlation parameters (where available) and the π+-p differential cross-sections. (author)