Exclusive electroproduction of $\varphi$ mesons at HERA

Abstract

Exclusive electroproduction of $\varphi$ mesons has been studied in $e^{\pm }p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=318 \gev$ with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 65.1 pb${}^{-1}$. The ${\gamma }^{\ast }p$ cross section is presented in the kinematic range $2<Q^2<70 \gev^2$, $35<W<145 \gev$ and ${|t|}<0.6 \gev^2$. The cross sections as functions of $Q^2$, $W$, $t$ and helicity angle ${\theta }_h$ are compared to cross sections for other vector mesons. The ratios $R$ of the cross sections for longitudinally and transversely polarized virtual photons are presented as functions of $Q^2$ and $W$. The data are also compared to predictions from theoretical models.

29 pages, 10 figures, 7 tables, accepted by Nucl. Phys. B