The e + e − → π + π − cross section has been measured from about 280 events (an order of magnitude more than the previous world statistics) in the energy interval 1.35 ⩽ s ⩽ 2.4 GeV with the DM2 detector at DCI. The pion squared form factor | F π | 2 shows a deep minimum around 1.6 GeV/ c 2 and is better fit under the hypothesis of two ϱ-like resonance ⋍0.25 GeV/ c 2 wide with 1.42 and 1.77 GeV/ c 2 masses.
Results on the reaction γγ → π + π − π 0 π 0 are presented. There is clear evidence for correlated ϱ + ϱ − production. The cross section is much lower than for γγ → ϱ 0 ϱ 0 .
The reaction γγ → ϱ + ϱ − → π + π − π 0 π 0 has been studied with the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS II at DESY. Near threshold, the cross section for this reaction is about four times smaller than for the reaction γγ → ϱ 0 ϱ 0 .
We report the first observation of an orbitally excited baryon, the Λ(1520), in quark and gluon fragmentation. The production rate is found to be (1.15±0.21±0.16)×10 −2 and (0.80±0.17 −0.13 +0.10 )×10 −2 Λ (1520) hyperons per event in direct ϒ decays and in the continuum, respectively. In contrast to the observed situation for ground state baryons, the production of the Λ(1520) in direct ϒ decays shows little or no enhancement with respect to continuum production.
The e + e − → ηπ + π − reaction has been measured in the center of mass energy interval 1350–2400 MeV by the magnetic detector DM2 at the Orsay storage ring DCI. Under the hypothesis of only one large resonance the cross section is not fit in a satisfactory way. The branching ratio τ − → η − π 0 ν τ =(0.13 ± 0.02)% is deduced via CVC from the above measurement.
Using the ARGUS detector at the DORIS II storage ring, we have observed the charmed baryons Σ c ++ and Σ c 0 , through their decays to Λ c + π ± . We have measured the mean Σ c −Λ c + mass difference as 167.6±0.3±1.6 MeV/ c 2 . The isospin mass splitting between the Σ c ++ and the Σ c 0 was found to be 1.2±0.7±0.3 MeV/ c 2 . The rate of Λ c + production from Σ c decays was found to be (36±12±11)% of the total rate of Λ c + production. The Σ c χ p spectrum was observed to be similar to that of the Λ c + , with a Peterson function parameter ϵ of 0.29±0.06.
The reaction γγ→K + K − π + π − π 0 has been observed for the first time, using the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS II at DESY. The cross section shows an enhancement for W γγ close to 3 GeV/ c 2 . Searches for γγ→ωφ and for γγ→φφ leading to this final state, as well as for γγ→φφ→2K + 2K − , have been performed. The derived upper limits for ωφ and φφ production are compatible with q q q q model predictions.
The final states K S 0 K S 0 π + π − and K S 0 K ∓ π 0 π ± , produced in two-photon reactions, have been studied using the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS II at DESY. The reaction γγ→ K ∗+ K ∗− has been observed for the first time. Its cross section is about eight times larger than that for γγ→ K ∗0 K ∗0 , but it has a similar W γγ dependence.
Data from e + e − annihilations at 29 GeV have been used to measure the production cross section and fragmentation function of η mesons. The signal is observed in the η → γγ decay channel. The fragmentation for p η >1.5 GeV/ c agrees well with the prediction of the Lund model, whereas the prediction of the Webber model lies above the data. The mean multiplicity is measured to be 〈 n η 〉=0.58±0.10 η mesons per hadronic event, of which 0.51 represents the direct production of η and η ′ mesons in the fragmentation chain.
Using the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS II at DESY, we have observed parity violation in the decay Λ ± c → Λπ ± . We measure the coefficient of parity violation, α Λ c , to be −0.96±0.42. In addition, we measure σ BR ( Λ + c → Λπ + and σ BR ( Λ + c → Σ 0 π + ) to be, respectively, (2.2±0.3±0.4) pb and (2.0±0.7±0.4) pb.