Near-Threshold Production of $\mathit{\omega }$ Mesons in the $\mathit{pp}\to \mathit{pp}\mathit{\omega }$ Reaction

The total cross section for $\omega$ production in the $\mathrm{pp}\to \mathrm{pp}\omega$ 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 $\phi$ and $\omega$ 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 ${\pi }^{-}p\to n\omega /\phi$ reactions.