Elastic proton-proton scattering: Excitation functions from 0.45 to 2.5 GeV

Excitation functions of the differential cross sections dσdgw, analyzing powers AN and spin correlation parameters ANN, ASS and ASL have been measured with internal targets at the Cooler Synchrotron COSY. Data were taken continously during the acceleration and deceleration of the internal beam for kinetic energies between 450 and 2500 MeV and scattering angles 30° ⩽ σcm ⩽ 90°. Details of the experimental method are presented. The results provide excitation functions and angular distributions of high precision and internal consistency. No evidence for narrow structures are found. Upper limits on the coupling of narrow resonances to elastic scattering in the mass range √s = 2.2…2.8 GeV are deduced. The data have significant impact on phase shift solutions.