Electroproduction of exclusive $\phi$ vector mesons has been studied with the CLAS detector in the kinematical range $1.6\leq Q^2\leq 3.8$ GeV$^{2}$, $0.0\leq t^{\prime}\leq 3.6$ GeV$^{2}$, and $2.0\leq W\leq 3.0$ GeV. The scaling exponent for the total cross section as $1/(Q^2+M_{\phi}^2)^n$ was determined to be $n=2.49\pm 0.33$. The slope of the four-momentum transfer $t'$ distribution is $b_{\phi}=0.98 \pm 0.17$ GeV$^{-2}$. The data are consistent with the assumption of s-channel helicity conservation (SCHC). Under this assumption, we determine the ratio of longitudinal to transverse cross sections to be $R=0.86 \pm 0.24$. A 2-gluon exchange model is able to reproduce the main features of the data.
Axis error includes +- 18.6/18.6 contribution.
Axis error includes +- 18.6/18.6 contribution.
Axis error includes +- 18.6/18.6 contribution.
We report measurements of the electroproduction of ϕ mesons from hydrogen at Q2 values of 0.23, 0.43, and 0.97 GeV2 with |t| varying from 0.125 to 1.3 GeV2 at each Q2 point. The data show no evidence for a Q2 dependence of the slope of the t distribution; the forward cross section falls with increasing Q2 as the square of the ϕ propagator; the decay angular distributions agree with the predictions of s-channel helicity conservation; and the ratio of the longitudinal to the transverse component increases linearly with Q2.
'DATA POINT ONE'.
'DATA POINT TWO'.
'DATA POINT THREE'. POOR STATISTICS - NOT IN PUBLISHED FIGURE.
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