Regge Cuts and the Veneziano Model in BackwardπNScattering

The Reggeized absorptive cut is included in three Regge-pole (the $\Delta$, $N_{\alpha }$, $N_{\gamma }$) fits to backward $\pi N\to N\pi$ differential cross sections. The over-all framework of the Veneziano model is used, and successful fits are found with smooth one-parameter residues. The cuts remove the Veneziano model's contradictions with experiment, are essentially parameterless, and are definitely non-negligible. We discuss methods to verify their presence. The usual difficulty in extrapolating to the $\Delta$ mass (too small a width) remains unresolved. Possible explanations of this problem are discussed.