QED Radiative Corrections in Exclusive $\rho^0$ Leptoproduction

Abstract

The semi-analytical approach to the model independent leptonic QED corrections to exclusive $\rho^0$ meson leptoproduction (i.e. electron and muon scattering experiments) is presented. The corrections to $\rho^0$ production at large $Q^2$ as well as to $\rho^0$ photoproduction are studied in details. The numerical results are calculated for two different experimental analyses: NMC (muoproduction at large $Q^2$) and ZEUS at HERA (photoproduction). It is shown that the corrections are 2-5 \% for NMC and below 2 \% for the ZEUS measurement. The application of the presented approach to other vector mesons production is straightforward.