Photoproduction ofϕMesons from Carbon at 1800 MeV

We have measured the cross section for photoproduction of $\varphi$ mesons at 0° by 1800-MeV photons. Approximately 165 $\varphi \text{'}\mathrm{s}$ were observed, yielding a cross section $\frac{d\sigma }{\mathrm{dt}}=(0.75\mathrm{}\pm 0.17)$ μb/Ge${\mathrm{V}}^2$/nucleon for $\mathrm{}\left|t\right|=0.175\mathrm{}$ Ge${\mathrm{V}}^2$. This value is consistent with a "vector-dominance" prediction using ${\rho }^0$ photoproduction data, SU(3) coupling constants, and a quark-model prediction for the $\rho$- and $\varphi$-nucleon cross sections.