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We describe a novel technique for comparing total cross sections for the reactions pp --> pp pi(0), pp --> pp eta, and pp --> pp eta' close to threshold. The initial and final state proton-proton interactions are factored out of the total cross section, and the dependence of this reduced cross section on the volume of phase space is discussed. Different models of the proton-proton interaction are compared. We argue that the scattering length of the S-wave eta'-proton interaction is of the order of 0.1 fm., 10 pages, 5 figures

The production of eta mesons has been measured in the proton-proton interaction close to the reaction threshold using the COSY-11 internal facility at the cooler synchrotron COSY. Total cross sections were determined for eight different excess energies in the range from 0.5 MeV to 5.4 MeV. The energy dependence of the total cross section is well described by the available phase-space volume weighted by FSI factors for the proton-proton and proton-eta pairs., Comment: 9 pages, 1 table, 5 figures

Total cross sections for the pp --> pp eta' reaction have been measured in the excess energy range from Q = 1.53 MeV to Q = 23.64 MeV. The experiment has been performed at the internal installation COSY-11 using a stochastically cooled proton beam of the COoler SYnchrotron COSY and a hydrogen cluster target. The determined energy dependence of the total cross section weakens the hypothesis of the S-wave repulsive interaction between the eta' meson and the proton. New data agree well with predictions based on the phase-space distribution modified by the proton-proton final-state-interaction (FSI) only., Comment: 12 pages, 1 table, 4 figures

Threshold measurements of the associated strangeness production reactions pp --> pK(+)Lambda and pp --> pK(+)Sigma(0) are presented. The most remarkable feature of the data is that at the same excess energy the total cross section for the Sigma(0) production appears to be about a factor of 28(-9)(+6) smaller than for the Lambda particle. It is concluded that strong Sigma(0)p final state interactions, and in particular the Sigma N --> Lambda p conversion reaction, are the likely cause of the depletion in the Sigma signal. This hypothesis is in line with other experimental evidence in the literature.

The $pp \to pp \eta^{\prime}$ (958) reaction has been measured at COSY using the internal beam and the COSY-11 facility. The total cross sections at the four different excess energies \mbox{$ Q = ~1.5 ~MeV, ~1.7 ~MeV, ~2.9 ~MeV,$ and $ ~4.1 MeV$} have been evaluated to be \mbox{$ \sigma = 2.5 \pm 0.5~nb$, $~~~ 2.9 \pm 1.1~nb$, $~~~ 12.7 \pm 3.2~nb$, ~ and $~~~ 25.2 \pm 3.6 ~nb $}, respectively. In this region of excess energy the $\eta^{\prime}$ (958) cross sections are much lower compared to those of the $\pi ^0$ and $\eta$ production.

The pp → pK+Λ reaction was measured at COSY with a proton beam momentum of 2.345 GeV/c, i.e. with an excess energy of 2 MeV above threshold. The total cross section was determined to be 8.2 ± 1.8 nb. The present data point close to the production threshold indicates, that existing phenomenological parametrizations of the total kaon production cross section are insufficient.

The near threshold total cross section and angular distributions of K+K- pair production via the reaction pp --> ppK+K- have been studied at an excess energy of Q = 17 MeV using the COSY-11 facility at the cooler synchrotron COSY. The obtained cross section as well as an upper limit at an excess energy of Q = 3 MeV represent the first measurements on the K+K- production in the region of small excess energies where production via the channel pp --> pp Phi --> ppK+K- is energetically forbidden. The possible influence of a resonant production via intermediate scalar states f0(980) and a0(980) is discussed., 8 pages, 6 figures, replaced with revised version, accepted for publication in Phys. Lett. B

The near threshold total cross section and angular distributions of K+K− pair production via the reaction pp→ppK+K− have been studied at an excess energy of Q=17 MeV using the COSY-11 facility at the cooler synchrotron COSY. The obtained cross section as well as an upper limit at an excess energy of Q=3 MeV represent the first measurements on the K+K− production in the region of small excess energies where production via the channel pp→ppΦ→ppK+K− is energetically forbidden.