Measurements of the total cross section have been performed at the ISR with c.m. energies between 23.5 GeV and 62.5 GeV. Two independent experimental methods have been applied, a measurement of total interaction rate and of small angle elastic scattering. Both experiments give consistent results showing that the total cross section increases by (11.8±1.5) % over the ISR energy range. This experiment has also measured the slope of the forward diffraction peak in elastic scattering at small momentum transfer. The elastic cross section shows the same relative rise as the total cross section, and the ratio λ of elastic to total cross section approaches a constant value of λ =0.178±0.003.

Antiproton-proton and proton-proton small-angle elastic scattering was measured for centre-of-mass energies s =30.6, 52.8 and 62.3 GeV at the CERN Intersectung Storage Rings. In addition, proton-proton elastic scattering was measured at s =23.5 GeV . Using the optical theorem, total cross sections are obtained with an accuracy of about 0.5% for proton-proton scattering and about 1% for antiproton-proton scattering. The measurement of the interference of the Coulomb scattering and the hadronic scattering permits a determination of the ratio of the real-to-imaginary part of the forward hadronic scattering amplitude. Also presented are measurements of the hadronic slope parameter.

A detailed account is given of high-precision measurements of the total hadronic cross sections of proton-antiproton and proton-proton interactions at centre-of-mass energies of 30.6, 52.8 and 62.7 GeV. The experiment was performed at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR) using the total interaction-rate method, in which additive correction terms for trigger losses were held to less than 6% of the final result. An experimental determination of the vertical beam-displacement scale permitted luminosity-monitor calibrations to be made with high intrinsic accuracy. The overall precision (systematic and statistical errors combined) achieved in the total cross sections was ± 1.1% for proton-antiproton reactions and 0.7% for proton-proton reactions. In the proton-proton case the measurement was the most precise such measurement made at the ISR.

Antiproton-proton and proton-proton small-angle elastic scattering have been measured for centre-of-mass energies √ s = 30.7 and 62.5 GeV at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR). Antiproton-proton and proton-proton total cross sections are obtained using the optical theorem. The measurement of the Coulomb scattering and its interference with the nuclear scattering allows a determination of the ratio of the real-to-imaginary part of the forward nuclear scattering amplitude. Also presented are measurements for the nuclear slope parameter at √ s = 62.5 GeV. Our new results reinforce the conclusions drawn recently from our measurements at √ s = 52.8 GeV. In particular, the pp̄ total cross section is rising at ISR energies and should continue to rise well beyond these energies.

The small-angle elastic scattering for pp at s=23.5, 30.7, and 52.8 GeV and for p¯p at s=52.8 GeV are measured. The data are normalized on Coulomb scattering. Using the optical theorem and the best estimate of the real part of the forward scattering amplitude, ρ(pp¯)=0.1, we obtain σtot(p¯p)=44.1±2.9 mb for the total cross section and b(p¯p)=13.6±2.2 GeV−2 for the nuclear slope parameter. This supports the dispersion relation prediction that σtot(p¯p) will start to rise above Elab≈200 GeV.

By using three different c.m. energies in pp interactions,\(\sqrt s \), 44, 62 GeV, it is shown that the average charged-particle multiplicity <nch> sclaes with\(\sqrt s \) once the correct hadronic energy available for multiparticle production,Ehad, is used as basic parameter. The pp data, analysed in this way, are compared with e+e− data at equivalent energies. The agreement is very satisfactory.

The average charged multiplicity in proton-proton interactions has been studied at √ s = 62 GeV. A very good agreement with the average charged multiplicity measured in e + e − annihilation at different energies is obtained by redefining, in p-p, the correct energies available for particle production. This means that a p-p collision at √ s = 62 GeV does in fact correspond to a large range of effective hadronic energies available for particle production.

The measurement of the proton-proton total cross section performed by the CERN-Pisa-Rome-Stony Brook Collaboration at the CERN ISR is discussed in detail. The total interaction rate, the elastic scattering rate in the forward direction, and the machine luminosity were measured simultaneously to obtain three different determinations of the total cross section. Consistent results were found, which made it possible to prove the reliability of the Van der Meer luminosity calibration within +-0.9% and to achieve a precision of +-0.6% in the measurement of the total cross section.

We present the first results of an experiment at the CERN intersecting storage rings, which measures the total cross-section in proton-proton collisions. The equivalent laboratory momenta are 291, 496, 1068 and 1480 GeV/c. We have made a direct measurement of αT as the ratio between the total interaction rate and the machine luminosity. The present paper gives a detailed description of the experimental apparatus and of the analysis procedure. We find that αT increases by about 10% in the energy region studied.

Measurements of proton-proton elastic scattering at angles around 6 mrad have been made at centre-of-mass energies of 23, 31, 45 and 53 GeV using the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings. The absolute scale of the cross-section was established by determination of the effective density of the colliding beans in their overlap region. Proton-proton total cross sections were deduced by extrapolation of the elastic differential cross-section to the forward direction and by application of the optical theorem. The results indicate that over the energy range studied the proton-proton total cross-section increases from about 39 to about 43 mb.