We report on an exclusive and kinematically complete high-statistics measurement of the basic double-pionic fusion reaction $pn\to d{\pi }^0{\pi }^0$ over the full energy region of the ABC effect, a pronounced low-mass enhancement in the $\pi \pi$-invariant mass spectrum. The measurements, which cover also the transition region to the conventional $t$-channel $\Delta \Delta$ process, were performed with the upgraded WASA detector setup at COSY. The data reveal the Abashian-Booth-Crowe effect to be uniquely correlated with a Lorentzian energy dependence in the integral cross section. The observables are consistent with a narrow resonance with $m=2.37\mathrm{GeV}$, $\Gamma \approx 70\mathrm{MeV}$ and $I(J^P)=0(3^{+})$ in both $pn$ and $\Delta \Delta$ systems. Necessary further tests of the resonance interpretation are discussed.

A number of laser facilities coming online all over the world promise the capability of high-power laser experiments with shot repetition rates between 1 and 10 Hz. Target availability and technical issues related to the interaction environment could become a bottleneck for the exploitation of such facilities. In this paper, we report on target needs for three different classes of experiments: dynamic compression physics, electron transport and isochoric heating, and laser-driven particle and radiation sources. We also review some of the most challenging issues in target fabrication and high repetition rate operation. Finally, we discuss current target supply strategies and future perspectives to establish a sustainable target provision infrastructure for advanced laser facilities.

The pp→pK+Y0 reaction has been studied for hyperon masses m(Y0)⩽1540 MeV/c2 at COSY-Jülich by using a 3.65 GeV/c circulating proton beam incident on an internal hydrogen target. Final states comprising two protons, one positively charged kaon and one negatively charged pion have been identified with the ANKE spectrometer. Such configurations are sensitive to the production of the ground state Λ and Σ0 hyperons as well as the Σ0(1385) and Λ(1405) resonances. Applying invariant- and missing-mass techniques, the two overlapping excited states could be well separated, though with limited statistics. The shape and position of the Λ(1405) distribution, reconstructed cleanly in the Σ0π0 channel, are similar to those found from other decay modes and there is no obvious mass shift. This finding constitutes a challenging test for models that predict Λ(1405) to be a two-state resonance