Vertex-strength-algebra treatment of vector-meson photoproduction

An extension of the Regge model, using vector dominance and the scheme of Cabibbo, Horwitz, and Ne'eman for the calculation of factorized Regge residues, is applied to the photoproduction of vector mesons. Using parameters obtained from elastic meson-nucleon and nucleon-nucleon scattering, the photoproduction cross section is found to be consistent with the data, and the well-known problem with respect to the suppression of φ production is resolved. Total vector-meson-nucleon and γ-nucleon high-energy cross sections are also calculated, using the same parameters, and are found to be in agreement with the data.