Inclusive cross sections of η production by e + e - annihilation for c.m. energies between 4.0 and 5.0 GeV are presented. The η production is shown to be correlated with the production of a weakly decaying particle, indicating that its main source is F production. At the 4.42 GeV resonance it is correlated with a low energy photon, suggesting F F ∗ or F ∗ F ∗ production. A mass determination of the F is made at 4.42 GeV using the F → ηπ decay channel.
η production has been investigated by the Mark II collaboration at the SLAC e+e− storage ring PEP. η particles are reconstructed by their γγ decay mode. The η fragmentation function has been measured and found to be in good agreement with the Lund-model prediction. η′ production has been measured for the first time in high-energy e+e− annihilation. There is evidence at the 3σ level for Ds± decay into ηπ± and η′π±.
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.