Alternative Constructions of Crossing-Symmetric Amplitudes with Regge Behavior

A representation for the scattering amplitude that contains Regge behavior, crossing symmetry, and analyticity is discussed. It is shown that it provides a different ghost-eliminating mechanism (the Mandelstam-Wang one) from that given by Veneziano's proposal. Furthermore, it does not restrict the external masses, but reduces to Veneziano's formula when (s) + (t) + (u) equals a particular integer that depends on the reaction. Several examples are discussed. The behavior of the Regge residue _ (t) at _ (t) =0 is proposed as a test that distinguishes the two representations.