  We investigate the pp --> pp eta and pn --> pn eta reactions within an
effective Lagrangian model for laboratory kinetic energies ranging from very
close to eta meson production threshold to about 10 GeV. Production amplitudes
include contributions from the mechanism of excitation, propagation and decay
of N*(1535), N*(1650), and N*(1710) baryonic resonances. The initial
interaction between two incoming nucleons is modeled by the exchange of pi,
rho, omega and sigma mesons where the vertex parameters are taken to be the
same as those used in the previous applications of this model. Parameters of
the resonance vertices also have been taken from our earlier studies wherever
applicable. Calculations have been done for total as well as differential eta
production cross sections. To describe the data for energies closer to the
production threshold final state interactions among the out-going particles
have been included by means of a generalized Watson-Migdal method. Terms
corresponding to the excitation of N*(1535) resonance and pion exchange process
dominate the cross sections. With a single set of vertex parameters our model
is able to describe the available data well on total cross sections for beam
energies ranging from close to threshold to upto 10 GeV.
