Hard diffraction in hadron--hadron interactions and in photoproduction

Abstract

Hard single diffractive processes are studied within the framework of the triple--Pomeron approximation. Using a Pomeron structure function motivated by Regge--theory we obtain parton distribution functions which do not obey momentum sum rule. Based on Regge-- factorization cross sections for hard diffraction are calculated. Furthermore, the model is applied to hard diffractive particle production in photoproduction and in $p\bar{p}$ interactions.

13 pages, Latex, 13 uuencoded figures