Small Dimensionless Parameter to Characterize Multiple-Pomeranchon Phenomena

We identify a small dimensionless parameter ${\eta }_P$ associated with the triple Pomeranchon vertex, which governs both the rate of high-mass diffractive dissociation processes and the fine structure in the $J$-plane spectrum near $J=1\mathrm{}$. Theoretical arguments are given that ${\eta }_P\lesssim 1-{\alpha }_P\mathrm{}\left(0\right)\mathrm{}$, and a possible experiment to measure ${\eta }_P$ is discussed. A formula for ${\eta }_P$, based on a multiperipheral model, shows that in such models this parameter does not vanish, and a connection of ${\eta }_P$ with a perturbation formalism for the Pomeranchon propagator is suggested.