The cross section of the process $e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ was measured in the Spherical Neutral Detector experiment at the VEPP-2M collider in the energy region $\sqrt[]{s} = 980 \div 1380$ MeV. The measured cross section, together with the $e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ and $\omega\pi^+\pi^-$ cross sections obtained in other experiments, was analyzed in the framework of the generalized vector meson dominance model. It was found that the experimental data can be described by a sum of $\omega$, $\phi$ mesons and two $\omega^\prime$ and $\omega^{\prime\prime}$ resonances contributions, with masses $m_{\omega^\prime}\sim 1490$,$m_{\omega^{\prime\prime}}\sim 1790$ MeV and widths $\Gamma_{\omega^\prime}\sim 1210$, $\Gamma_{\omega^{\prime\prime}}\sim 560$ MeV. The analysis of the $\pi^+\pi^-$ invariant mass spectra in the energy region $\sqrt[]{s}$ from 1100 to 1380 MeV has shown that for their descriptionone should take into account the $e^+e^-\to\omega\pi^0\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ mechanism also. The phase between the amplitudes corresponding to the $e^+e^-\to\omega\pi$ and $e^+e^-\to\rho\pi$ intermediate states was measured for the first time. The value of the phase is close to zero and depends on energy.

Approximately 700 events of the reaction K − d → K − π − pp s produced by 5.5 GeV/ c kaons were used to measure the cross section for Kπ elastic scattering in the T = 3 2 state by a Chew-Low extrapolation. The cross section does not exceed 2.1 mb and has no structure for Kπ masses from threshold up to 2.0 GeV.

We present a measurement of the cross section for hadron production by e+e− annihilation in the vicinity of the previously observed resonance near 3.77 GeV. The data are used to determine the parameters of the ψ(3770) resonance. The values found are: mass, 3764±5 MeV/c2, total width, 23.5±5 MeV, and partial width to electron pairs, 276±50 eV.

This paper gives the results of a study of inelastic charged-current interactions of muon-type neutrinos with hydrogen and deuterium targets using the Argonne 12-foot bubble chamber. We discuss in detail the separation of the events from background. For the single-pion production reactions νp→μ−pπ+, νn→μ−nπ+, and νn→μ−pπ0, energy-dependent cross sections, differential cross sections, invariant-mass distributions, and the Δ++(1236) decay angular distribution are presented. These data are also used to study the isospin properties of the πN system. Comparisons of the data with models of single-pion production are made, and a direct test of partial conservation of the axial-vector current is discussed. Cross sections and invariant-mass distributions are given for the reactions in which more than one pion is produced. Ten events of strange-particle production were found, and the properties of these events are discussed. The energy dependence of the total νp and νn cross sections from threshold to 6 GeV was determined, and the σ(νn)σ(νp) ratio measured. This ratio and the inclusive x and y distributions rapidly approach the scaling distributions expected from the quark-parton model.

We have measured the production cross section for K s 0 in e + e − annihilation from 3.6 to 5.0 GeV center of mass energy. A substantial increase of the K s 0 yield is observed around 4 GeV in qualitative agreement with the charm hypothesis.

Measurements of the semileptonic weak-neutral-current reactions νμp→νμp and ν¯μp→ν¯μp are presented. The experiment was performed using a 170-metric-ton high-resolution target detector in the BNL wide-band neutrino beam. High-statistics samples yield the absolute differential cross sections dσ(νμp)/dQ2 and dσ(ν¯μp)/dQ2. A measurement of the axial-vector form factor GA(Q2) is also presented. The results are in good agreement with the standard model SU(2)×U(1). The weak-neutral-current parameter sin2thetaW is determined to be sin2θW=0.220±0.016(stat)−0.031+0.023(syst).

We have measured the crosss section for the reaction e + e − → 4 π ± in the energy range 1 2–3.0 GeV.No statistically significant evidence for a new vector meson in the ϱ″ region is found.

We have observed 1085 events of the type e + e − → hadrons, in the total centre-of-mass energy range √ s = 1.2 to 3.0 GeV. The energy dependence of the total annihilation cross-section, parametrized in the form σ ( e + e − → hadrons ) = A · s n , is measured to be n = -(1.54 −0.29 +0.17 ) in the above energy range.

By combining new results obtained at C.M. energies of 1.2 and 1.3 GeV with previous data obtained at lower energies from the e + e − annihilation process e + e − → π + π − π o π o , we get an indication in favour of the existence of a new vector meson of the ϱ type, ϱ' (1250), the first daughter of the ϱ in the predictions of the Veneziano model. Further results on the annihilation process e + e − → π (1600) → π + π − π + π − are also presented.

The cross section for exclusive π+ electroproduction on the proton has been measured near threshold for the first time at two different values of the virtual photon polarization (ɛ∼0.2 and ɛ∼0.7). Using the low energy theorem for this reaction we deduce the axial and pseudoscalar weak form factors GA and GP at ‖t‖=0.073, 0.139, and 0.179 (GeV/c)2. The slope of GA agrees with the value obtained in neutrino experiments. GP satisfies the pion pole dominance hypothesis, which is thus verified for the first time in this range of transfer.

Reaction π−p→π0π0n has been measured with high statistics in the beam momentum range 270–750MeV∕c. The data were obtained using the Crystal Ball multiphoton spectrometer, which has 93% of 4π solid angle coverage. The dynamics of the π−p→π0π0n reaction and the dependence on the beam energy are displayed in total cross sections, Dalitz plots, invariant-mass spectra, and production angular distributions. Special attention is paid to the evaluation of the acceptance that is needed for the precision determination of the total cross section σt(π−p→π0π0n). The energy dependence of σt(π−p→π0π0n) shows a shoulder at the Roper resonance [i.e., the N(1440)12+], and there is also a maximum near the N(1520)32−. It illustrates the importance of these two resonances to the π0π0 production process. The Dalitz plots are highly nonuniform; they indicate that the π0π0n final state is dominantly produced via the π0Δ0(1232) intermediate state. The invariant-mass spectra differ much from the phase-space distributions. The production angular distributions are also different from the isotropic distribution, and their structure depends on the beam energy. For beam momenta above 550MeV∕c, the density distribution in the Dalitz plots strongly depends on the angle of the outgoing dipion system (or equivalently on the neutron angle). The role of the f0(600) meson (also known as the σ) in π0π0n production remains controversial.

The preliminary results of measurements of differential cross-sections for the photo-production of neutral pions from protons are given. The data fall in the range 60–125 degrees in pion c.m. angle and 350 to 850 MeV in photon energy.

The study of 620 hadron pairs produced in the s -range (1.44−9.0) GeV 2 , has yielded 110 collinear hadronic events. Their identification in terms of π and K mesons allows the determination of the time-like electromagnetic from factors of these pseudoscalar mesons in the above time-like range. The total number of (e + e − ) events observed in the same experimental conditions is 18 048.

In the experiment with the SND detector at VEPP-2M e^+e^- collider the process $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ was studied in the energy range 2E_0 from 1.04 to 1.38 GeV. A broad peak was observed with the visible mass $M_{vis}=1220\pm 20$ MeV and cross section in the maximum $\sigma_0\simeq 4$ nb. The peak can be interpreted as a $\omega$-like resonance $\omega (1200)$.

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We have used the momentum spectrum of leptons produced in semileptonic B-meson decays to set a 90%-confidence-level upper limit on Γ(b→ulν)Γ(b→clν) of 4%. We also measure the semileptonic branching fractions of the B meson to be (12.0±0.7±0.5)% for electrons and (10.8±0.6±1.0)% for muons.

The differential cross sections at 180° for the reactions γ+p→π++n and γ+n→π−+p were measured using a magnetic spectrometer to detect π± mesons. In order to reduce the spread of energy resolution due to the nucleon motion inside the deuteron, a photon difference method was employed with a 50-MeV step for the reaction γ+n→π−+p. The data show structures at the second- and the third-resonance regions for both reactions. A simple phenomenological analysis was made for fitting the data, and the results are compared with those of previous analyses.

The polarization parameter in elastic π−p scattering has been measured, at the Berkeley 184-in. synchrocyclotron, with the use of a polarized proton target. At 318-, 337-, and 390-MeV incident pion kinetic energy, the angular range from 70° to 180° in the center-of-mass system was covered. At 229 MeV, polarization measurements were made in the angular range 150° to 180°. Phase-shift analyses, using these and other published data, were made at the two lowest energies.

We present measurements of the total production rates and momentum distributions of the charmed baryon $\Lambda_c^+$ in $e^+e^- \to$ hadrons at a center-of-mass energy of 10.54 GeV and in $\Upsilon(4S)$ decays. In hadronic events at 10.54 GeV, charmed hadrons are almost exclusively leading particles in $e^+e^- \to c\bar{c}$ events, allowing direct studies of $c$-quark fragmentation. We measure a momentum distribution for $\Lambda_c^+$ baryons that differs significantly from those measured previously for charmed mesons. Comparing with a number of models, we find none that can describe the distribution completely. We measure an average scaled momentum of $\left< x_p \right> = 0.574\pm$0.009 and a total rate of $N_{\Lambda c}^{q\bar{q}} = 0.057\pm$0.002(exp.)$\pm$0.015(BF) $\Lambda_c^+$ per hadronic event, where the experimental error is much smaller than that due to the branching fraction into the reconstructed decay mode, $pK^-\pi^+$. In $\Upsilon (4S)$ decays we measure a total rate of $N_{\Lambda c}^{\Upsilon} = 0.091\pm$0.006(exp.)$\pm$0.024(BF) per $\Upsilon(4S)$ decay, and find a much softer momentum distribution than expected from B decays into a $\Lambda_c^+$ plus an antinucleon and one to three pions.

We study the process $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-\gamma$, with a hard photon radiated from the initial state. About 60,000 fully reconstructed events have been selected from 89 $fb^{-1}$ of BaBar data. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the effective \epem center-of-mass energy, so that these data can be compared with the corresponding direct $e^+e^-$ measurements. From the $4\pi$-mass spectrum, the cross section for the process $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ is measured for center-of-mass energies from 0.6 to 4.5 $GeV/c^2$. The uncertainty in the cross section measurement is typically 5%. We also measure the cross sections for the final states $K^+ K^- \pi^+\pi^-$ and $K^+ K^- K^+ K^-$. We observe the $J/\psi$ in all three final states and measure the corresponding branching fractions. We search for X(3872) in $J/\psi (\to\mu^+\mu^-) \pi^+\pi^-$ and obtain an upper limit on the product of the $e^+e^-$ width of the X(3872) and the branching fraction for $X(3872) \to J/\psi\pi^+\pi^-$.

The differential cross section for π − p → n π o has been measured in detail from 150 to 600 MeV. The backward cross section has a previously unobserved dramatic dip at 425 MeV. We interpret this dip in terms of interference between the P 33 (1236) and the P 11 (1470) resonances. These data provide strong evidence for the adequacy of the phase shift solutions in this energy range.

Data are presented for the reaction ep → ep π 0 at a nominal momentum transfer squared of 1.0 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The data were obtained using an extracted electron beam from NINA and two magnetic spectrometers for coincidence detection of the electron and proton. Differential cross sections have been measured for isobar masses in the range 1.19–1.73 GeV/ c 2 .

The reaction gamma p --> K0 Sigma+ was measured in the photon energy range from threshold up to 2.6 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA, in Bonn. Results are presented on the reaction cross section and the polarization of the Sigma+ as a function of the kaon production angle in the centre-of-mass system, cos(Theta_K^{c.m.}), and the photon energy. The cross section is lower and varies less with photon energy and kaon production angle than that of gamma p --> K+ Sigma0. The Sigma+ is polarized predominantly at cos(Theta_K^{c.m.}) \approx 0. The data presented here are more precise than previous ones obtained with SAPHIR and extend the photon energy range to higher values. They are compared to isobar model calculations.

The reactionγγ→π+π−π+π− has been studied with the ARGUS detector. The rate in the invariant mass region below 1.8 GeV/c2 is found to be largely due toρ0ρ0 production. A spin-parity analysis shows a dominance of the partial wave (JP,Jz)=(2+, 2) with a small admixture fromJP=0+. The contribution of negative parity states is consistent with zero. The large ratio of cross sectionsσ(γγ→ρ0ρ0)/σ(γγ→ρ+ρ−)≃4, and the dominance of theJP=2+ wave in the reactionγγ→ρ0ρ0 is a signature consistent with the production of an exotic (I=2) resonance.

The differential asymmetry ratio for the process γ+n→p+π− was measured at 90° in the center-of-mass system and for incident photon energies from 352 to 550 MeV. The observed asymmetries are larger than the values predicted from the theory by Berends, Donnachie, and Weaver. A smaller M1- amplitude gives better agreement between the experiment and the theory.

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The reaction e + e − → ηπ + π − has been studied with the Neutral Detector in the CM energy range 1.05–1.40 GeV at VEPP-2M. At the maximum energy the cross section exceeds the prediction of the vector dominance with one ϱ(770). The following upper limits for the electron width times branching ratio into ηπ + π − have been obtained for a resonance with a mass of 1.28 GeV and width of 0.08 GeV observed with the Omega-spectrometer at CERN: Λ ee · B ηππ < 9 eV, and for a ϱ′(1250) with a mass of 1.26 GeV and width of 0.125 GeV: Λ ee · B ηππ < 14 eV at 90% confidence level.

Results on the elastic K − π − scattering have been obtained from a study of the K − π − system in 15 000 events of the type K − p→K − π − p π + at a K − beam momentum of 4.25 GeV/ c . The on-mass-shell values of the spherical harmonic moments of the K − π − scattering angular distribution and the K − π − elastic cross section have been obtained by extrapolation to the pion pole. From these values we determined the s- and p-wave phase shifts δ 0 3 and δ 1 3 as a function of the effective mass of the K − π − system between threshold and 1.25 GeV/ c 2 . The value of | δ 0 3 | is smaller than 17° for all mass values and the existence of a p-wave cannot be neglected. At m K − π − = 1.18 GeV/ c 2 there are two solutions for the phase shifts. On the average, the cross section of the K − π − elastic scattering over the region of the effective mass considered amounts to approximately 2.5 mb.

The asymmetry of the cross section for π + photoproduction from a polarized butanol target has been measured at a c.m. angle 90° and photon energies between 300 and 900 MeV by a single-arm spectrometer detecting positive pions. Our results indicate that the asymmetry has clear positive peaks at photon energies 400 and 700 MeV with a deep valley at about 600 MeV. The general feature of the results is well reproduced by the phenomenological analyses made by Walker and ourselves; however, the best fit to the polarized target asymmetry data seems to give a somewhat different set of parameters from that given by Walker.

The total electromagnetic cross sections of g-rays in hydrogen and deuterium have been measured over the energy range 265–4215 MeV using a photon tagging system. From these measurements, the total pair production cross sections are obtained, and the results are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of Jost, Luttinger and Slotnick.

The total cross section for photoproduction of hadrons on the deutron, σ T d , has been measured for photon energies in the range 0.265–40215 GeV. From this, using results for the photon total cross section, obtained previously with the same apparatus, the neutron total cross section has been determined in the resonance region. The resonant structure is found to be quite different from that for the proton. Thereafter the neutron cross section falls off steadily with energy, and the values obtained are consistently lower than those for the proton. Forward scattering amplitudes have been evaluated for the deuteron.

The process γγ→π+π−π+π− has been investigated in reactions of the typee+e−→e+e−π+π−π+π− in the single tag mode. The range of the four momentum squared of one of the virtual photons was 0.28 GeV2/c2≦Q2≦3.6 GeV2/c2, the average being 〈Q2〉=0.92 GeV2/c2; the other photon was quasi real. The reaction is mainly described by the channels γγ→ρ0ρ0 and γγ→4π (phase space), occuring with about equal probability. TheQ2-dependence of the cross section is in agreement with the ρ form factor.

In the analysis of the reactione+e−→e+e−KS0Ks0 clear evidence for exclusive γγ→f2′ resonance production is observed. The productΓγγ ·B(f2′→K\(\bar K\)) is measured to be 0.10−0.03−0.02+0.04+0.03 keV independent of ana priori assumption on the helicity structure. Our data are consistent with a pure helicity 2 contribution and we derive an upper limit for the ratioΓγγ(0)/Γγγ. The absence of events in the mass region around 1.3 GeV clearly proves destructivef2−a2 interference and allows to measure the relative phases betweenf2,a2 andf2′. Upper limits on the production of the glueball candidate statesf2(1720) andX(2230) as well as theKS0KS0-continuum are given.

The reactione+e−→e+e− A2 (1320) has been observed by detecting the decayA2→π+,π-π0. The two-photon width of theA2 has been measured to be Г(A2→γγ)=(0.09±0.27 (stat)±0.16 (syst)) keV. The cross section σ(γγ→π+,π-π0 has been determined outside theA2 resonance region.

We measured the inclusive electron-proton cross section in the nucleon resonance region (W < 2.5 GeV) at momentum transfers Q**2 below 4.5 (GeV/c)**2 with the CLAS detector. The large acceptance of CLAS allowed for the first time the measurement of the cross section in a large, contiguous two-dimensional range of Q**2 and x, making it possible to perform an integration of the data at fixed Q**2 over the whole significant x-interval. From these data we extracted the structure function F2 and, by including other world data, we studied the Q**2 evolution of its moments, Mn(Q**2), in order to estimate higher twist contributions. The small statistical and systematic uncertainties of the CLAS data allow a precise extraction of the higher twists and demand significant improvements in theoretical predictions for a meaningful comparison with new experimental results.

To complete data on resonance electroproduction we constructed an electron spectrometer with large angular and momentum acceptance. As a first result inclusive cross sections for an invariant hadronic mass 1.2<W<1.7 GeV and a four momentum transfer squared 0.5<Q2<1.5 (GeV/c)2 and for values of the polarization parameter 0.1<ɛ<0.25 are presented. Combining our results with the SLAC 4°-data we obtain σL/σT in the specified kinematical range.

The process γγ→π+π− was measured using the detector MD-1 at VEPP-4. The two-photon reactionse+e−, μ+ μ− and π+ π− pair production were separated using scintillation counters, Cherenkov counters and shower-range chambers. A radiation widthГγγ(f2(1270))=3.1±0.35±0.35 keV was obtained.

The reaction π+p→π+π+n was studied in the vicinity of the reaction threshold at ten incident pion beam momenta from 297 MeV/c to 480 MeV/c. From data angular distributions, invariant mass spectra and integrated cross-sections were deduced. The chiral symmetry breaking parameter as determined by this reaction equals to ξ=1.56±0.26±0.39, where the first error is experimental, while the latter reflects the uncertainty in the ansatz used in the extrapolation to the reaction threshold. A comparison with the other reaction channels of the reaction πp→ππN indicates that a single parameter (ξ) is not sufficient to describe low energy ππ interactions.

The results of a comprehensive series of measurements of the cross-sections for the photo-production of π0-mesons from hydrogen at pion c.m. angles from 47 to 145 degrees are presented. The minimum and maximum photon energies have been 238 and 922 MeV respectively.

Some cross-sections for the photo-production of ~z~ from hydrogen for pion c.m. angles in the range 60~ ~ are presented. The data have been obtained by measuring proton yields from a hydrogen target, thus permitting separation of single-pion production from the strong background caused by double-pion production. The values, which extend from 360 to 938 MeV, show reasonable agreement with the results of a recent phase-shift analysis

The production of charged kaon pairs in two-photon interactions has been studied with the ARGUS detector and the topological cross section has been measured. The γγ-widths and interference parameters have been determined for the tensor mesonsf2 (1270),a2 (1318) andf′2 (1525). The helicity structure assumed for the continuum contribution has a significant effect on the result. Upper limits have been obtained for the γγ-widths of the glueball candidate statesf2 (1720) andX (2230).

Resonance production in the γγ reactionse+e−→e+e+e−π0π0 ande+e−π0η has been studied with the JADE detector at PETRA. The decay widths into γγ of thef2(1270),a0(980) anda2(1320) were measured to be\(\Gamma _{\gamma \gamma } (f_2 (1270)) = 3.19 \pm 0.09_{ - 0.38}^{ + 0.22} \) Kev,Γλλ(a0(980))=0.28±0.04±0.10 KeV/BR(a0(980)→π0η) andΓλλ(a2(1320))=1.01±0.14±0.22KeV. For thef0(975) andf4(2050) upper limits of the widths were obtained,Γλλ(f0(975))<0.6 KeV, andΓλλ(f4(2050))<1.1 KeV, both at the 95% C.L. Assuming that the spin 0 background under thef2(1270) is small, thef2(1270) was found to be produced exclusively in a helicity 2 state. The helicity 0 contribution is <15% at the 95% C.L. The cross section forλλ→π0π0 in the mass range 2.0–3.5 GeV/c2 was measured for the first time. Since the cross section forλλ→π+π− is a factor ∼2 larger, ππ production in this range can be interpreted as taking place via isospin 0 production.

In the reaction γγ→KS0KS0 resonance production of thef2− is observed. For the radiative with\(\Gamma _{\gamma \gamma } .B(f'_2\to K\bar K) = 0.11_{ - 0.02}^{ + 0.03}\pm 0.02keV\) is found. The small number of events in thef2,a2 mass region is consistent with the assumption of destructivef2−a2 interference. From the mass distribution we determine the relative phases between the tensor mesons. Upper limits on the radiative widths of the glueball candidatesf2(1720) andX (2220) are derived.

The production of thef0 in two photon collisions, with the subsequent decayf0→π+π− has been observed in the CELLO detector at PETRA. Thef0 peak was found to lie on a dipion continuum and to be shifted downwards in mass by ≃50 MeV/c2. The ππ mass spectrum from 0.8 to 1.5 GeV/c2 was well fitted by the model of Mennessier using only a unitarised Born amplitude and helicity 2f0 amplitude. The previously observed mass shift and distortion of thef0 peak are explained by strong interference between the Born andf0 amplitudes. The only free parameter in the fit of the data to the model is the radiative widthΓγγ(f0). It was found that:Γγγ(f0)=2.5±0.1±0.5 keV where the first (second) quoted errors are statistical (systematic).

We have determined the cross section for γγ→π+π+π−π− in a way free of assumptions about the relative contributions fromρ0ρ0,ρ02π and 4π (uncorrelated phase space). We find a sharp onset above threshold and a rather high cross section of about 200 nb aroundWγγ=1.5 GeV which consists to about 40% ofρ0ρ0 production with sizeable contributions fromρ02π and 4π (PS). The total cross section as well as theρ0ρ0 content fall rather fast at higher c.m. energies. Attempts to explain this behaviour in terms of production of known resonances are not successful so far. The angular distributions do not show any significant structure pointing to resonance formation in the 4π-system. Only theρ0-meson is observed in the moment analysis. The decay distributions of theρ0 for forward produced rhos are fairly consistent with helicity conservation of the produced rhos in accordance with the VDM picture.

An analysis of the production ofKS0KS0 andK±Ks0π∓ by two quasi-real photons is presented. The cross section forγγ→K0\(\overline {K^0 } \), which is given for the γγ invariant mass range fromK\(\bar K\) threshold to 2.5 GeV, is dominated by thef′(1525) resonance and an enhancement near theK\(\bar K\) threshold. Upper limits on the product of the two-photon width times the branching ratio intoK\(\bar K\) pairs are given forΘ(1700),h(2030), and ξ(2220). For exclusive two-photon production ofK±Ks0π∓ no significant signal was observed. Upper limits are given on the cross section ofγγ→K+\(\overline {K^0 } \)π− orK−K0π+ between 1.4 and 3.2 GeV and on the product of the γγ width times the branching ratio into theK\(\bar K\)π final states for theηc(2980) and the ι(1440), yieldingΓ(γγ)→i(1440))·BR(i(1440)→K\(\bar K\)π<2.2 keV at 95% C.L.

The complete results of the experiments carried out with the Neutral Detector at the e + e − storage ring VEPP-2M in the energy range 2 E =0.5–1.4 GeV are reviewed. The data sample corresponds to a total integrated luminosity of 19 pb −1 .

First results of the study of the process e+e- \to 4\pi by the CMD-2 collaboration at VEPP-2M are presented for the energy range 1.05--1.38 GeV. Using an integrated luminosity of 5.8 pb^{-1}, energy dependence of the processes e+e- \to \pi^+\pi^- 2\pi^0 and e+e- \to 2\pi^+ 2\pi^- has been measured. Analysis of the differential distributions demonstrates the dominance of the a_1\pi and \omega\pi intermediate states. Upper limits for the contributions of other alternative mechanisms are also placed.

We report a high-statistics measurement of differential cross sections for the process gamma gamma -> pi^0 pi^0 in the kinematic range 0.6 GeV <= W <= 4.0 GeV and |cos theta*| <= 0.8, where W and theta* are the energy and pion scattering angle, respectively, in the gamma gamma center-of-mass system. Differential cross sections are fitted to obtain information on S, D_0, D_2, G_0 and G_2 waves. The G waves are important above W ~= 1.6 GeV. For W <= 1.6 GeV the D_2 wave is dominated by the f_2(1270) resonance while the S wave requires at least one additional resonance besides the f_0(980), which may be the f_0(1370) or f_0(1500). The differential cross sections are fitted with a simple parameterization to determine the parameters (the mass, total width and Gamma_{gamma gamma}B(f_0 -> pi^0 pi^0)) of this scalar meson as well as the f_0(980). The helicity 0 fraction of the f_2(1270) meson, taking into account interference for the first time, is also obtained.