Vector-Meson Electroproduction at HighQ2

Abstract

We have measured ${\rho }^0$, $\omega$ (combined) and $\varphi$ electroproduction over a range of virtual-photon four-momentum $Q^2$ from 0.4 to 2.2 ${\mathrm{GeV}}^2$ and for photon energies $\nu$ from 2.7 to 8.6 GeV. We find that the slope of the $t$ (momentum transfer) dependence of the ${\rho }^0$ and $\omega$ forward peak decreases with increasing $Q^2$ to less than half of the photoproduction slope.