Mirage Trajectories

A mirage trajectory is a Regge trajectory which has no physical particle lying on it. We discuss both its possible dynamic origin and its peculiar properties. In particular, we consider the possibility that the Pomeranchon is a mirage trajectory. This conjecture (1) simplifies the structure of Mandelstam-type cuts, (2) gives a simple physical interpretation of the Harari hypothesis, and (3) indicates a possible explanation for the smallness of the Pomeranchon slope near $t=0\mathrm{}$, while still allowing the Pomeranchon to be a moving pole.