Exclusive Electroproduction of $ρ^0$ and $J/ψ$ Mesons at HERA

Abstract

Exclusive production of $ρ^0$ and $J/ψ$ mesons in e^+ p collisions has been studied with the ZEUS detector in the kinematic range $0.25 < Q^2 < 50 GeV^2, 20 < W < 167 GeV$ for the $ρ^0$ data and $2 < Q^2 < 40 GeV^2, 50 < W < 150 GeV$ for the $J/ψ$ data. Cross sections for exclusive $ρ^0$ and $J/ψ$ production have been measured as a function of $Q^2, W$ and $t$. The spin-density matrix elements $r^{04}_{00}, r^1_{1-1}$ and $Re r^{5}_{10}$ have been determined for exclusive $ρ^0$ production as well as $r^{04}_{00}$ and $r^{04}_{1-1}$ for exclusive $J/ψ$ production. The results are discussed in the context of theoretical models invoking soft and hard phenomena.