We present measurements of the differential and total cross sections and the Λ polarization for the reaction K−p→ηΛ from threshold to pK−=770MeV/c, with much better precision than previous measurements. Our cross-section data show a remarkable similarity to the SU(3) flavor-related π−p→ηn cross-section results. The reaction K−p→ηΛ at threshold is dominated by formation of the intermediate Λ(1670)12− state.

The exclusive production cross sections for $\omega$ and $\phi$ mesons have been measured in proton-proton reactions at $p_{lab}=3.67$ GeV/c. The observed $\phi/\omega$ cross section ratio is $(3.8\pm0.2^{+1.2}_{-0.9})\times 10^{-3}$. After phase space corrections, this ratio is enhanced by about an order of magnitude relative to naive predictions based upon the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka (OZI) rule, in comparison to an enhancement by a factor $\sim 3$ previously observed at higher beam momenta. The modest increase of this enhancement near the production threshold is compared to the much larger increase of the $\phi/\omega$ ratio observed in specific channels of $\bar pp$ annihilation experiments. Furthermore, differential cross section results are also presented which indicate that although the $\phi$ meson is predominantly produced from a $^3P_1$ proton-proton entrance channel, other partial waves contribute significantly to the production mechanism at this beam momentum.

The reaction γp → K 0 Σ + has been measured with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher ring ELSA. The total cross section rises up to a peak value of 1.1 μ b at a photon energy of 1.4 GeV. The differential cross sections dσ/dΩ are consistent with being flat throughout the measured energy range. The first measurement of the Σ + polarization in photon induced reactions was obtained.

Enhanced production of ΛΛ pairs, above levels predicted by a two-step process model, has been observed near threshold (in the mass range 2.23-2.26 GeV/ c 2 ) in the 12 C( K − , K + ) reaction at 1.66 GeV/ c using a scintillating fiber target. The differential cross section for ΛΛ production in the momentum region 0.95≤ p K + ≤1.3 GeV/ c averaged over the range 2.3 o ≤ θ K + ≤14.7 o was found to be 7.6±1.3 ±0.9 μ b/sr, and that for the enhancement was found to be approximately 3 μ b/sr.

Associated strangeness production in the reactions γp → K + Λ and γp → K + Σ 0 was measured with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher ring ELSA at Bonn. Data on total and differential cross sections and on hyperon polarizations are presented. The total cross section for Λ production shows a strong threshold enhancement whereas the Σ 0 data have a maximum at about E γ =1.45 GeV. Along with the angular decomposition of the differential cross section into polynomials, this suggests resonance production. However, the angular distributions of both hyperon polarizations vary only slightly with the photon energy. Λ and Σ 0 polarizations show opposite signs and change sign over the angular range.

Enhanced production of ΛΛ pairs, above the prediction of a two-step process model, is observed near threshold (around the masses of 2.23 – 2.26 GeV/c 2 ) in the 12 C(K − ,K + ) reaction at P K − = 1.66GeV/c using a scintillating fiber target. The differential cross section for the ΛΛ production averaged over 2.3° ≤ $$ K + ≤ 14.7° in the momentum region 0.95 ≤ p K + ≤ 1.3GeV/c was found to be 7.6 ± 1.3 μb/sr, and that for the enhancement approximately 3 μb/sr.

The 1H(e,e′K+)Λ reaction was studied as a function of the squared four-momentum transfer, Q2, and the virtual photon polarization, ɛ. For each of four Q2 settings, 0.52, 0.75, 1.00, and 2.00 (GeV/c)2, the longitudinal and transverse virtual photon cross sections were extracted in measurements at three virtual photon polarizations. The Q2 dependence of the σL/σT ratio differs significantly from current theoretical predictions. This, combined with the precision of the measurement, implies a need for revision of existing calculations.

Double differential cross sections have been measured for pi+ and K+ emitted around midraidity in d+A and He+A collisions at a beam kinetic energy of 1.15 GeV/nucleon. The total pi+ yield increases by a factor of about 2 when using an alpha projectile instead of a deuteron whereas the K+ yield increases by a factor of about 4. According to transport calculations, the K+ enhancement depends both on the number of hadron-hadron collisions and on the energy available in those collisions: their center-of-mass energy increases with increasing number of projectile nucleons.

The double strangeness exchange reaction ( K − , K + ) is investigated with respect to the sub-threshold production of scalar and vector mesons ( f 0 / a 0 / φ ) decaying into K + K − and the two-step processes induced by intermediate mesons and Ξ − hyperons at p k − = 1.66 GeV/ c using a scintillating fiber active target. The differential cross section ( 〈 dσ dΩ L 〉) averaged over the angular interval (2.3° ⩽ θ K + L ⩽ 14.7°) for the sub-threshold f 0 / a 0 / φ meson production with the K + K − decay is 11 ± 6 μ b/sr at 0.6 ⩽ p K 1 < 0.95 GeV/ c . The present result differs significantly from the theoretical calculation which predicts the contribution of the f 0 / a 0 / φ meson production to be predominant in the ( K − , K + ) reaction below p K + = 0.95 GeV/ c . We found a sizable contribution from two-step ( K − , K + processes, characterized by production of two S = −1 hyperons, consistent with the result of the intra-nuclear cascade (INC) model calculation with respect to the meson-induced hyperon (or hyperon resonance) pair production in the momentum region 0.6 ⩽ p K + < 0.95 GeV/ c . The observed enhancement of the cross section for the two-step ΛΛ production beyond the prediction of the INC model at p K + ⋍ 1.1 GeV /c could be due to the Ξ − p → ΛΛ reaction in 12 C.

Interest in the production of hyperon-antihyperon pairs following antiproton-proton annihilation stems largely from attempts to understand the nature of flavor production. To date the major focus of both the experimental and the theoretical effort has been on the p¯p→Λ¯Λ reaction. In this paper, we present data on the complementary channels p¯p→Σ¯0Λ and p¯p→Λ¯Σ0. Events from the kinematically similar p¯p→Λ¯Λ reaction were obtained in parallel. The procedure to distinguish these three separate reactions is described and results for all channels are presented. These include the total and differential cross sections, hyperon polarizations, and spin correlation coefficients. Data were obtained at incident antiproton lab momenta of 1.726 and 1.771 GeV/c which correspond to excess kinetic energies in the p¯p→Λ¯Σ0+c.c. reaction of 26 and 40 MeV, respectively, above threshold. Comparisons are made to earlier work at similar excess energies in the p¯p→Λ¯Λ channel. The low-energy regime has been highlighted in this experiment to reduce the complexity in the theoretical analysis. © 1996 The American Physical Society.