Diffractive light vector meson production at large momentum transfers

The diffractive process ${\gamma }^{\mathrm{*}}$(${\mathit{Q}}^2$)p→V+X (where V=${\mathrm{\rho }}^0$,ω,φ are the vector mesons, consisting of light quarks, and X represents the hadrons to which a proton dissociates) is studied. We consider the region of large momentum transfers ‖t‖≫${\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{\mathrm{QCD}}^2$, and large energies s. In the leading logarithm approximation of perturbative QCD (using the BFKL equation) the asymptotic behavior of the cross section in the limit s→∞,s≫‖t‖,${\mathit{Q}}^2$ is obtained. We compare the results derived from the BFKL equation with that obtained in the lowest order of QCD (two-gluon exchange in the t channel). The possibility to investigate these reactions at DESY HERA is discussed. © 1996 The American Physical Society.