Pomeron physics: an update

Abstract

Key issues in pomeron physics include whether the hard and soft pomerons are distinct objects, and whether the hard pomeron is already present in amplitudes at $Q^2=0$. It is urgent to learn how to combine perturbative and nonperturbative concepts, and to construct a sound theory of perturbative evolution at small $x$. Other questions are whether screening corrections are small, and gap survival probabilities large. Finally, do diffractive processes present a good way to discover the Higgs?

Comments: 12 pages, 23 figures embedded with epsf Summary talk at Diffraction2000, Calabria, September 2000