AMPLITUDE-PHASE PATTERNS - A NEW LOOK AT STRONG-INTERACTIONS

The phases of complex spin-dependent scattering amplitudes for elastic processes NN, piN, pid, along with pp --> dpi+, are analyzed in vario us frames of reference for spin quantization. When all available energ ies and angles are compiled it is seen that the ''phase histograms'' f or each reaction have remarkably simple properties in one choice of op timal frame; the phases tend to be integer multiples of 90-degrees, wi thin existing uncertainties. A two-component model for piN is presente d that reproduces the striking pattern of phases and its generalizatio n is discussed.