Exclusive electroproduction of φ mesons at HERA

Exclusive electroproduction of phi mesons has been studied in e (+/-) p collisions at root s = 318 GeV with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 65.1 pb(-l). The gamma*p crosssection is presented in the kinematic range 2 GeV2 < Q(2) < 70 GeV2, 35 GeV < W < 145 GeV and vertical bar t vertical bar < 0.6 GeV2. The cross sections as functions of Q(2), W, t and helicity angle phi(h) are compared to cross sections for other vector mesons. The ratios R of the cross sections for longitudinally and transversely polarized virtual photons are presented as functions of Q2 and W. The data are also compared to predictions from theoretical models. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.