The impact of the ARGUS experiment to elementary particle physics is reviewed. More than ten years of data taking has allowed ARGUS to contribute significantly to our understanding of beauty and charmed hadrons, τ Leptons, ϒ mesons, ϒϒ interactions and fragmentation processes. In particular the ARGUS measurements of CKM matrix elements opened up a new window on the Standard Model.
Using the ARGUS detector at the e(+)e(-) storage ring DORIS II we have measured the absolute branhing ratios of the D-0 meson, Br(D-0 --> K- pi(+)) = (3.41 +/- 0.12 +- 0.28)%, Br(D-0 --> K- pi(+)pi(+)pi(-)) = (6.80 +/- 0.27 +/- 0.57)%, and Br(D-0 --> ($$$) over bar K-0 pi(+)pi(-)) = (5.03 +/- 0.389 +/- 0.49)%.