Role of Interacting Reggeons in Field-Theoretic Investigations of High-Energy Scattering

Using infinite-momentum perturbation theory we discuss Regge exchange and the Reggeeikonal approximation in field theory. This calculational technique enjoys a simple physical picture which is a realization of Feynman's parton ideas. It allows us to present a simple space-time interpretation of the popular Regge-eikonal approximation which treats Reggeons as noninteracting, noninterfering units. However, our calculational scheme suggests that it is not reasonable to treat Reggeons as noninteracting entities. In fact, using integral-equation techniques, we calculate a set of graphs involving interacting Reggeons and find that they give rise to a scattering amplitude which grows faster with energy than single Reggeon exchange. The implications of this result outside the calculational scheme presented here are discussed.