Infrared Gluon Resummation and pp total cross-sections

We address here the problem of describing both the total & the elastic proton-proton cross-section, through the four outstanding features of hadron scattering: (i) the optical point; (ii) the forward peak, (iii) the dip & (iv) the subsequent descent at larger momentum transfers. These issues are discussed through an eikonal model for the elastic amplitude where the matter distribution in impact parameter space is given by resummed soft gluons down into the infrared (IR) region. The asymptotic growth of the total cross-section is obtained in a mini-jet model and the taming (saturation) at high energies is related to confinement realized here through an IR singular strong coupling constant αs(Q2). We present an ansatz that links the IR singularity of αs(Q2) to that of asymptotic freedom (AF) (at lowest order). Through this model, we illustrate the problems that arise in a generic one-channel eikonal model employed for a description of the measured differential elastic cross-section at LHC7