  We present an updated empirical analysis on the ratio of the elastic
(integrated) to the total cross section in the c.m. energy interval from 5 GeV
to 8 TeV. As in a previous work, we use a suitable analytical parametrization
for that ratio (depending on only four free fit parameters) and investigate
three asymptotic scenarios: either the black disk limit or scenarios above or
below that limit. The dataset includes now the datum at 7 TeV, recently
reported by the ATLAS Collaboration. Our analysis favors, once more, a scenario
below the black disk, providing an asymptotic ratio consistent with the
rational value 1/3, namely a gray disk limit. Upper bounds for the ratio of the
diffractive (dissociative) to the inelastic cross section are also presented.

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology;High Energy Physics - Experiment