First results from the magnetic detector PLUTO at the new e + e − storage ring PETRA are shown. The ratio R of the cross section for hadron production to that for μ-pair production has been measured to be R = 5.0 ± 0.5 at 13 GeV and 4.3 ±0.5 at 17 GeV. Both values have an additional systematic error of 20%. The events show a typical 2-jet structure. The mean transverse momentum approaches a constant value with increasing energy implying a shrinkage of the jet opening angle.

We present evidence for the exclusive reaction e+e−→Ds±Ds*∓, observed with the Mark III detector at the SLAC storage ring SPEAR. The Ds± is reconstructed in the φπ± decay mode, while the Ds*∓ is detected as a narrow peak in the recoil-mass distribution. The mass of the Ds* is found to be 2109.3±2.1±3.1 MeV/c2, yielding a Ds*−Ds mass difference of 137.9±2.1±4.3 MeV/c2. The width of the Ds* is <22 MeV/c2 at the 90%-confidence level. The observed signal corresponds to σ(e+e−→Ds+Ds*−+Ds−Ds*+)B(Ds+→φπ+)=30±6±11 pb at s=4.14 GeV.

We have measured the differential cross section d2σdΩdTπ and the polarization parameter P for the production of π+ and π− in various target nuclei (H1, H2, Be, C, O, Al, Ni, Cu, Mo, and Pb) by protons with a kinetic energy of 585 MeV, for production angles θπ=22.5°, 45°, 60°, 90°, and 135°, and for pion kinetic energies Tπ of 24, 35, 46, 88, 151, 192, and 254 MeV (all quantities in the laboratory system). Our data disagree strongly with recent data for 580-MeV protons. On the other hand, for pion energies up to 150 MeV, our cross sections differ little from those measured for a proton energy of 730 MeV. For nuclei with A>20, the total production cross sections σ(π+) and σ(π−) show the Z13 and N23 proportionality expected from theoretical arguments. There is evidence in our data of a shift of the π+ energy distributions compared to the π− distributions due to the effects of the Coulomb field of the nuclear protons on the emitted pions. NUCLEAR REACTIONS H1, H2, Be, C, O, Al, Ni, Cu, Mo, Pb p, π±, Tp=585 MeV; measured σ(Tπ, θπ) and asymmetry parameter P(Tπ, θπ).

The production of the Lambda and Sigma0 hyperons has been measured via the pp->pK+Lambda / Sigma0 reaction at the internal COSY-11 facility in the excess energy range between 14 and 60 MeV. The transition of the Lambda/Sigma0 cross section ratio from about 28 at Q<=13 MeV to the high energy level of about 2.5 is covered by the data showing a strong decrease of the ratio between 10 and 20 MeV excess energy. Effects from the final state interactions in the p-Sigma0 channel seem to be much smaller compared to the p-Lambda one. Estimates of the effective range parameters are given for the N-Lambda and the N-Sigma systems.

We have studied several features of the production of charged-hardon pairs by γγ collisions. We have measured the f0 partial width Γf0→γγ(Q2) for Q2 in the range 0<Q2<1.4 GeV2/c2, and obtained Γf0→γγ=2.52±0.13±0.38 keV at Q2≈0. The measured Q2 dependence is in agreement with the generalized vector-dominance model. The cross section for γγ→(π+π−+K+K−) in the mass region 1.6≤Mππ≤2.5 GeV/c2 has also been measured and the result compared with that expected from the QCD continuum.

Total and differential cross sections for the reaction p(gamma, eta)p have been measured for photon energies in the range from 750 MeV to 3 GeV. The low-energy data are dominated by the S11 wave which has two poles in the energy region below 2 GeV. Eleven nucleon resonances are observed in their decay into p eta. At medium energies we find evidence for a new resonance N(2070)D15 with (mass, width) = (2068+-22, 295+-40) MeV. At photon energies above 1.5 GeV, a strong peak in forward direction develops, signalling the exchange of vector mesons in the t channel.

$K^0_SK^0_S$ production in two-photon collisions has been studied using a 397.6 fb$^{-1}$ data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. For the first time the cross sections are measured in the two-photon center-of-mass energy range between 2.4 GeV and 4.0 GeV and angular range $|\cos\theta^*|<0.6$. Combining the results with measurements of $\gamma\gamma\to K^+K^-$ from Belle, we observe that the cross section ratio $\sigma(K^0_SK^0_S)/\sigma(K^+K^-)$ decreases from ~0.13 to ~0.01 with increasing energy. Signals for the $\chi_{c0}$ and $\chi_{c2}$ charmonium states are also observed.

We report a high-statistics measurement of differential cross sections for the process gamma gamma -> pi^0 pi^0 in the kinematic range 0.6 GeV <= W <= 4.0 GeV and |cos theta*| <= 0.8, where W and theta* are the energy and pion scattering angle, respectively, in the gamma gamma center-of-mass system. Differential cross sections are fitted to obtain information on S, D_0, D_2, G_0 and G_2 waves. The G waves are important above W ~= 1.6 GeV. For W <= 1.6 GeV the D_2 wave is dominated by the f_2(1270) resonance while the S wave requires at least one additional resonance besides the f_0(980), which may be the f_0(1370) or f_0(1500). The differential cross sections are fitted with a simple parameterization to determine the parameters (the mass, total width and Gamma_{gamma gamma}B(f_0 -> pi^0 pi^0)) of this scalar meson as well as the f_0(980). The helicity 0 fraction of the f_2(1270) meson, taking into account interference for the first time, is also obtained.

The differential cross section for the process $\gamma \gamma \to \eta \pi^0$ has been measured in the kinematic range $0.84 \GeV < W < 4.0 \GeV$, $|\cos \theta^*|<0.8$, where $W$ and $\theta^*$ are the energy and $\pi^0$ (or $\eta$) scattering angle, respectively, in the $\gamma\gamma$ center-of-mass system. The results are based on a 223 fb$^{-1}$ data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+ e^-$ collider. Clear peaks due to the $a_0(980)$ and $a_2(1320)$ are visible. The differential cross sections are fitted in the energy region $0.9 \GeV < W < 1.46 \GeV$ to obtain the parameters of the $a_0(980)$. Its mass, width and $\Gamma_{\gamma \gamma} \B (\eta \pi^0)$ are measured to be $982.3 ^{+0.6}_{-0.7} ^{+3.1}_{-4.7} \MeV/c^2$, $75.6 \pm 1.6 ^{+17.4}_{-10.0} \MeV$ and $128 ^{+3}_{-2} ^{+502}_{-43} \eV$, respectively. The energy and angular dependences above 3.1 GeV are compared with those measured in the $\pi^0 \pi^0$ channel. The integrated cross section over $|\cos \theta^*|<0.8$ has a $W^{-n}$ dependence with $n = 10.5 \pm 1.2 \pm 0.5$, which is slightly larger than that for $\pi^0 \pi^0$. The differential cross sections show a $\sin^{-4} \theta^*$ dependence similar to $\gamma \gamma \to \pi^0 \pi^0$. The measured cross section ratio, $\sigma(\eta \pi^0)/\sigma(\pi^0 \pi^0) = 0.48 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.04$, is consistent with a QCD-based prediction.

We present the analysis of the inclusive $K^{0}$ production in p+p and p+Nb collisions measured with the HADES detector at a beam kinetic energy of 3.5 GeV. Data are compared to the GiBUU transport model. The data suggest the presence of a repulsive momentum-dependent kaon potential as predicted by the Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT). For the kaon at rest and at normal nuclear density, the ChPT potential amounts to $\approx 35$ MeV. A detailed tuning of the kaon production cross sections implemented in the model has been carried out to reproduce the experimental data measured in p+p collisions. The uncertainties in the parameters of the model were examined with respect to the sensitivity of the experimental results from p+Nb collisions to the in-medium kaon potential.