Vector Meson Photoproduction at High-t and Comparison to HERA Data

We explore QCD calculations for the process gamma p -> V X where V is a vector meson, in the region s >> -t and -t >> Lambda_QCD^2. We compare our calculations for the J/psi, phi and rho mesons with data from the ZEUS Collaboration at HERA and demonstrate that the BFKL approach is consistent with the data even for light mesons, whereas the two-gluon exchange approach is inadequate. We also predict the differential cross-sections for the Upsilon and omega for which no data are currently available.