Evidence for exchange degeneracy reanalysed

We present a detailed analysis of Kp and pp total cross sections with a view to investigating the validity of strong exchange degeneracy which has recently been questioned. Kp CEX data is used to extract the ρ -A2 exchange. This contribution is important in determining the exact behaviour of the pomeron at lower energies which in turn crucially affects the f-exchange contribution. Assuming ideal mixing for the f, we conclude that the f-ω residues satisfy strong exchange degeneracy, a result which can be interpreted as an important consistency check for Harari-Freund duality