The multiperipheral ladder structure of the Pomeron leads to the quite natural conclusion that the elastic slope, $B_{\mathrm{el}}$, is not a simple linear function of the logarithm of the collision energy. The existing experimental data on the diffraction cone shrinkage provide evidence in favor of such “complicated” energy dependence. An increase of the diffraction cone shrinkage with the beam energy is directly connected with the extreme rise of the total cross section (Froissart limit).

• Received 21 January 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.85.094024