Some Exact Results on π π Scattering

Abstract

In present day physics, at least in the field of strongly interacting particles the product of the mathematical rigor times the predictive power or the ability to produce measurable numbers, is approximately a constant. So the few people who want to obtain physical results, by purely deductive means, starting from postulates which are not obviously inconsistent with one another have a very hard time. One may be sometimes tempted to think that they are not really making physics progress. On the other hand, we see the flexibility of certain “physical” theories, when new unexpected experimental facts come in, which shows that these theories are not as predictive as they looked. So it might not be too bad if a minority of theoreticians tries to remain pure, with, in mind, the purpose of helping those who try phenomenological attempts, by producing some limitations which any good theory should fulfill.

Lecture given at IX. Internationale Universitätswochen für Kernphysik, Schladming, February 23 — March 7,1970.