Observing the Odderon: Tensor Meson Photoproduction

We calculate high-energy photoproduction of the tensor meson $f_2(1270)$ by odderon and photon exchange in the reaction $\gamma + {\rm{p}} \to f_2(1270) + {\rm{X}}$, where X is either the nucleon or the sum of the N(1520) and N(1535) baryon resonances. Odderon exchange dominates except at very small transverse momentum, and we find a cross section of about 20 nb at a centre-of-mass energy of 20 GeV. This result is compared with what is currently known experimentally about $f_2$ photoproduction. We conclude that odderon exchange is not ruled out by present data. On the contrary, an odderon-induced cross section of the above magnitude may help to explain a puzzling result observed by the E687 experiment.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure

Pitch-angle scattering in magnetostatic turbulence. I. Test-particle simulations and the validity of analytical results

Context. Spacecraft observations have motivated the need for a refined description of the phase-space distribution function. Of particular importance is the pitch-angle diffusion coefficient that occurs in the Fokker-Planck transport equation. Aims. Simulations and analytical test-particle theories are compared to verify the diffusion description of particle transport, which does not allow for non-Markovian behavior. Methods. A Monte-Carlo simulation code was used to trace the trajectories of test particles moving in turbulent magnetic fields. From the ensemble average, the pitch-angle Fokker-Planck coefficient is obtained via the mean square displacement. Results. It is shown that, while excellent agreement with analytical theories can be obtained for slab turbulence, considerable deviations are found for isotropic turbulence. In addition, all Fokker-Planck coefficients tend to zero for high time values.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Astron. Astrophy

On Non Perturbative Corrections to the Potential for Heavy Quarks

We discuss non perturbative corrections to the Coulomb-like potential of heavy quarks at short distances. We consider both the standard framework provided by infrared renormalons and the assumption that confinement does not allow weak fields to penetrate the vacuum. In the former case the leading correction at short distances turns out to be quadratic in r for static quarks. In the latter case we find a potential which is proportional to r as r rightarrow 0. We point out that similar effects arise due to a new kind of non perturbative correction proportional to 1/Q^2, which is unaccounted for by the operator product expansion and which was recently discussed within a different framework. Phenomenological implications of the linear correction to the potential are briefly reviewed.Comment: 13 pages, latex, 2 figures, uses eps

The colour dipole approach to small-x processes

We explain why it is possible to formulate a wide variety of high energy (small-x) photon-proton processes in terms of a universal dipole cross section and compare and contrast various parameterizations of this function that exist in the literature.Comment: 6 pages, latex, 2 figures. Contribution to Durham Collider Workshop (Sept 99) proceeding

The Extended Chiral Quark Model confronts QCD

We discuss the truncation of low energy effective action of QCD below the chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) scale, including all operators of dimensionality less or equal to 6 which can be built with quark and chiral fields. We perform its bosonization in the scalar, pseudoscalar, vector and axial-vector channels in the large-N_c and leading-log approximation. Constraints on the coefficients of the effective lagrangian are derived from the requirement of Chiral Symmetry Restoration (CSR) at energies above the CSB scale in the scalar-pseudoscalar and vector-axial-vector channels, from matching to QCD at intermediate scales, and by fitting some hadronic observables. In this truncation two types of pseudoscalar states (massless pions and massive Pi'-mesons), as well as a scalar, vector and axial-vector one arise as a consequence of dynamical chiral symmetry breaking. Their masses and coupling constants as well as a number of chiral structural constants are derived. A reasonable fit of all parameters supports a relatively heavy scalar meson (quarkonium) with the mass \sim 1 GeV and a small value of axial pion-quark coupling constant g_A \simeq 0.55.Comment: Talk at QCD99, Montpellier, July 1999, 7 pages, Late

Klein Tunnelling and the Klein Paradox

The Klein paradox is reassessed by considering the properties of a finite square well or barrier in the Dirac equation. It is shown that spontaneous positron emission occurs for a well if the potential is strong enough. The vacuum charge and lifetime of the well are estimated. If the well is wide enough, a seemingly constant current is emitted. These phenomena are transient whereas the tunnelling first calculated by Klein is time-independent. Klein tunnelling is a property of relativistic wave equations, not necessarily connected to particle emission. The Coulomb potential is investigated in this context: it is shown that a heavy nucleus of sufficiently large $Z$ will bind positrons. Correspondingly, it is expected that as $Z$ increases the Coulomb barrier will become increasingly transparent to positrons. This is an example of Klein tunnelling.Comment: 17 page

Energy Losses (Gains) of Massive Coloured Particles in Stochastic Colour Medium

The propagation of massive coloured particles in stochastic background chromoelectric field is studied using the semiclassical equations of motion. Depending on the nature of the stochastic background we obtain the formulae for the energy losses of heavy coloured projectile in nonperturbative hadronic medium and for the energy gains in the stochastic field present, e.g., in the turbulent plasma. The result appears to be significantly dependent on the form of the correlation function of stochastic external fieldComment: 9 pages, BI-TP 94/15, plain LaTe

Nonperturbative and perturbative aspects of photo- and electroproduction of vector mesons

We discuss various aspects of vector meson production, first analysing the interplay between perturbative and nonperturbative aspects of the QCD calculation. Using a general method adapted to incorporate both perturbative and nonpertubative aspects, we show that nonperturbative effects are important for all experimentally available values of the photon virtuality Q2. We compare the huge amount of experimental information now available with our theoretical results obtained using a specific nonperturbative model without free parameters, showing that quite simple features are able to explain the data.Comment: 19 page