K−p andpp elastic scattering and the shadow of generalized annihilation processes

Abstract The differences between the high-energy total cross sections and elastic scatterings of K − p and p p and their counterparts under crossing, K + p or pp, are analysed in terms of the inelastic channels open for the former and closed for the latter system. For p p these channels are mainly baryon annihilation. For K − p we introduce the concept of hypercharge annihilation K − p → hypercharge-zero particles (mainly one Y = 0 hyperon and Y = 0 mesons) and a vaguer notion of charge annihilation, and we propose that these generalized annihilation channels are the main ones open to K − p and closed to K + p. The contribution of the generalized annihilation processes to the overlap function of the overall collision is derived from the σ T and d σ el /d t data, using various simple model assumptions. The results, which are insensitive to the latter, predict the total annihilation cross sections and their high-energy dependence, as well as the range of the annihilation processes. The annihilation cross sections compare well with the few measured values. The annihilation ranges are predicted to be equal for K − p and p p , with a value close to the range of elastic scattering of p p and pp. The elastic range of Kp is smaller by about a factor two.