Structure Function Measurement at HERA

Preliminary results1 on a measurement of the proton structure function F2(x,Q 2) are reported for momentum transfers squared Q2 between 1.5 GeV2 and 5000 GeV2 and for Bjorken x between 5 · 10−5 and 0.32, using data collected by the HERA experiments H1 and ZEUS in 1994. F2 increases significantly with decreasing x, even in the lowest reachable Q2 region. The data are well described by a Next to Leading Order (NLO) QCD fit, and support within the present precision that the rise at low x within this Q2 range is generated ”radiatively” via the DGLAP evolution equations. Prospects for future structure function measurements at HERA are briefly mentioned.