Using the ARGUS detector at DORIS II, we have studied the production of the charmed baryon Λ c in e + e − annihilation at centre-of-mass energies near 10 GeV. The Λ c + was seen in the three decay modes pK − π + , Λπ + π − π + and K̄ 0 p, with products of normalized cross section times branching ratio [ R ·Br] of (10.8±1.4±1.2)×10 −3 , 6.6±1.5±0.9)×10 −3 and (6.7±1.4±0.8)×10 −3 respectively. The measured mass for the Λ c was (2283.1±1.7±2.0) MeV/ c 2 . A limit on the decay rates to Λπ + is reported. The fragmentation function of the Λ c was measured.

Using the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS II at DESY, we have found evidence for the production of the excited charmed baryon state Λ c (2593) + in the channel Λ c + π + π − . Its mass was determined to be (2594.6±0.9±0.4) MeV/c 2 , and the natural width measured to be Γ = (2.9 −2.1−1.4 +2.9+1.8 ) MeV. The production cross section times the branching ratios of σ ( e + e − → Λ c (2593) + X ) × Br ( Λ c (2593) + → Λ c + π + π − ) × Br ( Λ c + → pK − π + ) was measured to be (0.25 −0.13 +0.24 ±0.13) pb. The fractions of Λ c (2593) + decays proceeding through the Σ c 0 π + and Σ c ++ π − channels were determined to be 0.29±0.10±0.11 and 0.37±0.12±0.13, respectively.

Using the ARGUS detector at the e + e - storage ring DORIS II at DESY, we have observed the decay D s + → η'π + in two decay modes of the η'. We measure the ratio of branching ratios BR(D s + → η'π + )/BR(D s + → Øπ + ) to be 2.5±0.5±0.3.

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.

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.

Using the ARGUS detector at DORIS, we observe the production of D ∗+ s mesons in e + e − annihilation through their subsequent decays to a D + s and a photon. Photons which convert in the beam pipe or drift chamber inner wall are used to obtain a high precision measurement of the D ∗+ s -D + s mass difference, while photons detected in the shower counters are used to determine the production cross section, and to provide an independent measurement of the D ∗+ s -D + s mass difference. The observed D ∗+ s - D + s mass difference is 142.5±0.8±1.5 MeV/ c 2 , and σ(e + e − →D ∗+ s X)·BR(D ∗+ s →D + s γ)(·BR(D + s →φπ + ) is 4.4±1.1±1.0 pb at 10.2 GeV. The width of the D ∗+ s is less than 4.5 MeV/ c 2 at 90% confidence level.

Using the ARGUS detector at the DORIS II e + e - storage ring at DESY, we have observed a new charmed meson of mass (2469±4±6) MeV/ c 2 , decaying to D 0 π + . This state is a strong candidate for the charged isospin partner of the D ∗ (2459) 0 . The isospin mass splitting is measured to be (14±5±8) MeV / c 2 .

Using the detector ARGUS at the storage ring DORIS II of DESY, we have found evidence for the production of the charmed and doubly strange baryon Ω c through its decay channel Ξ − K − π + π + . Its mass has been determined to be ((2719.0±7.0±2.5)MeV/ c 2 , and the product of production cross section and branching ratio the above channel to be (2.41±0.90±0.30) pb.

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.

The production cross sections for the Λ, Σ0, Ξ−, Σ0 (1385), Ξ0 (1530) and Ω− hyperons have been measured, both in the continuum and in direct ϒ decays. Baryon rates in direct ϒ decays are enhanced by a factor of 2.5 or more compared to the continuum. Such a large baryon enhancement cannot be explained by standard fragmentation models. The strangeness suppression for baryons and mesons turns out to be the same. A strong suppression of spin 3/2 states is observed.

Using the ARGUS detector at the DORIS II e + e − storage ring at DESY, we have obtained evidence for a new charmed-strange meson which decays into D *+ K 0 . Its mass is observed to be 2535.9±0.6±2.0 MeV/ c 2 and its width to be less than 4.6 MeV/ c 2 at the 90% confidence level. No structure is observed at this mass in the D + K 0 invariant mass spectrum, which suggests that an unnatural spin-parity is preferred.

Using the ARGUS detector at the DORIS II storage ring at DESY, we have observed a charmed meson of mass (2455±3±5) MeV/c2, decaying to D + π − . The natural width of this state is determined to be (15 +13+5 −10−10 ) MeV c 2 . The fragmentation function is hard, as expected for a leading charmed particle from nonresonant e + e − annihilation. Analysis of the decay angular distribution supports the hypothesis that the observed state is an L =1 excited charmed meson with spin-parity 2 + .

Results on hyperon production are reported for data accumulated at 10 GeV centre-of-mass energy with the ARGUS detector. Signals for both the octet states Λ, Σ 0 and Ξ − and the decuplet states Σ ± (1385), Ξ 0 (1530) and Ω − are observed 1 (references to a specific state are to be interpreted as also implying the charge conjugate state), some for the first time in e + e − annihilation. Baryon rates from γ dir (1S) decays are enhanced by a factor of about 3 over the continuum.

Using the ARGUS detector at thee+e− storage ring DORIS II at DESY, we have measured the inclusive production ofD0,D+ andD*(2010)+ mesons inB decays and in nonresonante+e− annihilation around 10.6 GeV. The inclusive branching ratios forB decays toD0,D+ andD*+ mesons are found to be (52.2±8.2±3.5)%, (27.2±6.3±3.5)% and (34.8±6.0±3.5)% respectively. Thus,D0 andD+ production account for about 70% of the charm produced inB decays, neglectingb→u contributions to the total width. The production cross sections and momentum spectra for continuume+e− annihilation are also presented.

Observation of the semileptonic decay of the charmed baryon in the decay channel has been made using the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS II at DESY. The cross section times branching ratio was found to be .

Using data collected with the ARGUS detector, we have performed a decay angular analysis of the enhancement, previously known as the D ∗ (2420), seen in the final state D ∗ (2010) + π − . We thereby exhibit that the observed broad structure is actually due to two relatively narrow resonances, one of which is identified as the D ∗ (2459) 0 , while the massof the other is measured to be (2414±2±5) MeV/ c 2 . The results of the analysis are in good agreement with the interpretation of the two states as L =1 D mesons of spin-parities 2 + and 1 + respectively.

The production ofDS+ mesons inB meson decays, and inq\(\bar q\) continuum events, has been studied with the ARGUS detector at thee+e− storage ring DORIS II. In addition to the measurement of inclusiveDS+ production in γ(4S)→B\(\bar B\) decays, all eight two-body decay modesB→DS(*)D(*) have been measured with branching ratios between 1% and 3%. By comparing our inclusive and exclusive results to predictions of heavy quark effective theory, a value of (267±28) MeV × [2.7%/BR(Ds+→φπ+)]1/2 is obtained for the weak decay constant fDS(*), averaged overDS+ andDS*+ mesons.

We have measured theR value in non-resonante+e− annihilation using the ARGUS detector at the storage ring DORIS II. At a centre-of-mass energy\(\sqrt s= 9.36\) GeV the ratio of the hadronic cross-section to the μ-pair cross section in lowest order QED has been determined to beR=3.46±0.03±0.13. In addition, we have measured the charged-particle multiplicities in non-resonant hadron production at\(\sqrt s= 10.47\) GeV just below theB\(\bar B\) threshold and in ϒ (4S) resonance decays. For the average charged-particle multiplicities in continuum events and ϒ(4S)→B\(\bar B\) decays we obtain <n>cont=8.35±0.02±0.20 and <n>ϒ(4s)=10.81±0.05±0.23.

Using the ARGUS detector at the DORIS II e+e− storage ring at DESY, we have obtained evidence for a new charmed resonance which decays into D*±(2010)π∓. The observed mass and width are 2420±6 MeV/c2 and 70±21 MeV/c2, respectively. The fragmentation function is found to be hard, as expected for a state containing a leading charm quark produced by nonresonant e+e− annihilation.

Using the ARGUS detector at DORIS we have observed the prediction of the charged D ∗ meson in e + e − annihilation at a center of mass energy of 10 GeV. The D ∗ fragmentation function has been measured using the decay channels D ∗+ → D 0 π + and D 0 → K − π + and K − π + π + π − .

Direct observations of the semileptonic decay of Λ c + in the decay channels Λ c + → Λ e + X and Λ c + → Λμ + X have been made using the ARGUS detector at the DORIS II e + e − storage ring. The cross section times branching ratio were found to be σ (e + e − → Λ c + X)·BR( Λ c + → Λ e + X)=4.20±1.28±0.71 pb and σ (e + e − → Λ c + X)·BR( Λ c + → Λμ + X)=3.91±2.02±0.90 pb.

The inclusive production cross sections of η′ (958) andfo (975) mesons are measured ine+e− annihilation in the nonresonant continuum around\(\sqrt s= 10\) GeV and in decays of the υ resonances using the ARGUS detector. For η′ (958) mesons, a production ratio of η′ (958)/ηdir=0.35±0.24, with ηdir=η−BR(η′→ηX)·η′, is determined in direct υ(1S) decays, which can be partially explained by the pseudoscalar singlet/octet mixing. Forfo(975) production, we obtain a production ratio offo(975)/p(770)°=0.17±0.030 in direct υ(1S) decays. In its production features, thefo(975) behaves like an ordinary meson, though aK\(\bar K\) molecule nature cannot be excluded. The substantial production yield of thefo(975) meson demonstrates the important effect of feeddown from mesons beyond the basic multiples on pseudoscalar and vector meson production.

We report on the first observation of Δ(1232) ++ and Δ(1232)++¯ baryons in e + e − annihilation at energies around 10 GeV, using the ARGUS detector at DORIS II. The sum of the rates of Δ ++ and Δ++¯ per hadronic event in the continuum is measured to be 0.040±0.008±0.006, and the rate in direct ϒ(1S) decays is 0.124±0.016±0.015. The momentum spectrum of Δ ++ baryons in direct ϒ(1S) decays has been measured.

A search has been made for particles with charge Q = 1 3 , Q = 2 3 and Q = 4 3 produced in e + e − annihilation using the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS, operating at a centre of mass energy around 10 GeV. No candidate events were found in 84.5 pb −1 of collected data. Upper limits are established for the cross section for the production of fractionally charged particles with masses up to 4 GeV c 2 , improving on previously obtained limits.

Using the ARGUS detector at the e + e − storage ring DORIS II at DESY, we have made two measurements of the mixing parameter χ d using kaons as flavour tags. Using D ∗+ K ± correlations we found χ d = 0.20 ± 0.13 ± 0.12 and from the study of (D ∗+ ℓ − ) K ± correlations we obtained χ d = 0.19 ± 0.07 ± 0.09. The branching ratio for B → D ∗+ X has been updated: Br( B → D ∗+ X) = (19.6 ± 1.9) %. We have also determined the average multiplicity of charged kaons in B 0 decays to be 0.78 ± 0.08.