Near-Threshold Production of ω Mesons in the pp → pp ω Reaction

The total cross section for $\ensuremath{\omega}$ production in the $\mathrm{pp}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{pp}\ensuremath{\omega}$ reaction has been measured at 5 c.m. excess energies from 3.8 to 30 MeV. The energy dependence is easily understood in terms of a strong proton-proton final state interaction combined with a smearing over the width of the state. The ratio of near-threshold $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ and $\ensuremath{\omega}$ production is, to within relatively large uncertainties, consistent with the predictions of a simple one-pion-exchange model. The degree of violation of the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule is similar to that found in the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n\ensuremath{\omega}/\ensuremath{\varphi}$ reactions.