Near threshold K[sup +]K[sup -] meson-pair production in proton-proton collisions.

The near threshold total cross section and angular distributions of K[sup +]K[sup -] pair production via the reaction pp → ppK[sup +]K[sup -] 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[sup +]K[sup -] production in the region of small excess energies where production via the channel pp → ppφ → ppK[sup +]K[sup -] is energetically forbidden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]