Total $\gamma^{\star}\gamma^{\star}$ cross section and the BFKL pomeron

Abstract

In the framework of the dipole picture of the BFKL pomeron we discuss a few possibilities of calculating the total $\gamma^{\star}\gamma^{\star}$ cross section of the virtual photons. We argue that the existing successful fits of the dipole picture formulae to the measured structure functions $F_2(Q^2,x)$ favor one of the possible extensions of the dipole picture of the BFKL pomeron formulated recently by one of us.