This dissertation consists of two parts. The first part presentsan explicit procedure for applying multi-Regge theory toproduction processes. As an illustrative example, the case of threebody final states is developed in detail, both with respect to kinematicsand multi-Regge dynamics. Next, the experimental consistencyof the multi-Regge hypothesis is tested in a specific high energy reaction; the hypothesis is shown to provide a good qualitativefit to the data. In addition, the results demonstrate a severe suppressionof double Pomeranchon exchange, and show the coupling oftwo "Reggeons" to an external particle to be strongly damped as theparticle's mass increases. Finally, with the use of two body Reggeparameters, order of magnitude estimates of the multi-Regge crosssection for various reactions are given.
The second part presents a diffraction model for high energyproton-proton scattering. This model developed by Chou and Yangassumes high energy elastic scattering results from absorption ofthe incident wave into the many available inelastic channels, withthe absorption proportional to the amount of interpenetrating hadronicmatter. The assumption that the hadronic matter distribution isproportional to the charge distribution relates the scattering amplitudefor pp scattering to the proton form factor. The Chou-Yangmodel with the empirical proton form factor as input is then appliedto calculate a high energy, fixed momentum transfer limit for thescattering cross section, This limiting cross section exhibits thesame "dip" or "break" structure indicated in present experiments,but falls significantly below them in magnitude. Finally, possible spindependence is introduced through a weak spin-orbit type term whichgives rather good agreement with pp polarization data.
