Novel Color Transparency Effect: Scanning the Wave Function of Vector Mesons

Abstract

We demonstrate how the virtual photoproduction of vector mesons on nuclei scans the wave function of vector mesons from the large non-perturbative transverse size $\rho \sim R_V$ down to the small perturbative size $\rho \sim 1/\sqrt{Q^2}$. Thee mechanism of scanning is based on color transparency and QCD predicted spatial wave function of quark-antiquark fluctuations of virtual photons. A rich, energy- and $Q^2$-dependent, pattern of the nuclear shadowing and antishadowing is predicted, which can be tested at the European Electron Facility and SLAC.

Comments: TRI-PP-93-5, LaTeX file, 11 pages + 3 figures (not included, available by fax)