Near-threshold ω\omega-meson production in proton-proton collisions: With or without resonance excitations ?

We present results for the $p p \to p p \omega$ reaction studied by considering two different scenarios: with and without the inclusion of nucleon resonance excitations. The recently measured angular distribution by the COSY-TOF Collaboration at an excess energy of $Q = 173$ MeV and the energy dependence of the total cross section data for $\pi^- p \to \omega n$ are used to calibrate the model parameters. The inclusion of nucleon resonances improves the theoretical prediction for the energy dependence of the total cross section in $pp \to pp\omega$ at excess energies $Q < 31$ MeV. However, it still underestimates the data by about a factor of two, and remains a problem in understanding the reaction mechanism.Comment: Fig.5 and text modified, Latex, 4 pages, 8 embedded figures, uses espcrc1.sty (included), talk presented at PANIC02, Osaka, Japan, 30 September - 4 October 200