Absorptive corrections to the inclusive spectrum and the bare triple- Pomeron coupling

Using the AKG cutting rules the authors compute the absorptive corrections to the inclusive pp to pX spectrum in the triple-Regge region. The absorption corrections are very large (much larger than in the elastic amplitude) and are quite sensitive to the t dependence of the triple-pomeron coupling on its 'third leg'. Since this t dependence cannot be measured it is impossible to extract from inclusive data the exact value of the triple-pomeron coupling. The phenomenological consequences both for the rise with s of sigma /sub T //sup pp/ and for the tests of pomeron factorization are carefully studied. (14 refs).