Electron-positron annihilation above 2 GeV and the new particles

This paper reviews the experimental and phenomenological aspects of electron-positron annihilation into hadrons at center-of-mass energies above 2 GeV. The behavior of the total cross section for hadron production as a function of energy is described; and the important parameter R - the ratio of this cross section to the muon-pair production cross section - is discussed. Data on charged particle multiplicities, particle production ratios, and single particle inclusive distributions is also summarized. The paper than summarizes our knowledge of the newly discovered ψ particles; and examines the various theories as to their nature and their relation to conventional hadronic physics.