We consider the exclusive reaction $pp\to pp{\pi }^0{e}^{+}{e}^{-}$ at energies near the $\eta$ production threshold. Different channels contribute to this reaction. One of them—the production of $\eta$ mesons and its subsequent rare decay $\eta \to {\pi }^0{e}^{+}{e}^{-}$—is considered as a signal to which the other channels constitute the background. The conditions under which the signal can be larger than background are investigated.

• Received 29 December 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.69.037001