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?