THRESHOLD PRODUCTION CROSS-SECTION OF THE PP-]PP-ETA REACTION IN A NONRELATIVISTIC OBE MODEL

The pp --> pp eta reaction at energies near threshold is studied in a nonrelativistic one-boson exchange model, where the S11 (1535 MeV) nuc leon isobar is excited through the exchange of pi, eta and rho mesons. Providing NN and eta N final state interactions are taken into accoun t, our predictions reproduce the energy dependence as well as the scal e of the total production cross section near threshold, and thus enfor ce the validity of the S11 mechanism and perturbative approaches appli ed to eta production in hadronic collisions.