Energy dependence of diffraction maxima, interaction radius and absorption of the proton

For a large class of models, the behaviour with increasing energy of the proton-proton diffraction maxima determines the corresponding behaviour of the interaction radius and the absorption A/sub 0/ of the proton at zero impact parameter. Present experiments imply an increase of the interaction radius and indicate a moderate increase of the absorption A/sub 0/ through the CERN-ISR energy range. (12 refs).