$eta^{prime}$ production in proton-proton scattering close to threshold}

The $pp to pp eta^{prime}$ (958) reaction has been measured at COSY using the internal beam and the COSY-11 facility. The total cross sections at the four different excess energies mbox{$ Q = ~1.5 ~MeV, ~1.7 ~MeV, ~2.9 ~MeV,$ and $ ~4.1 MeV$} have been evaluated to be mbox{$ sigma = 2.5 pm 0.5~nb$, $~~~ 2.9 pm 1.1~nb$, $~~~ 12.7 pm 3.2~nb$, ~ and $~~~ 25.2 pm 3.6 ~nb $}, respectively. In this region of excess energy the $eta^{prime}$ (958) cross sections are much lower compared to those of the $pi ^0$ and $eta$ production.