We use perturbative QCD and parton-hadron duality to estimate the cross sections for the diffractive electroproduction of ${\rho }^{\prime }{(1\mathrm{}}^{-})$ and $\rho {(3\mathrm{}}^{-})$ resonances which occur in the 1.3–1.8 GeV mass interval. We present the cross sections and the ratios ${\sigma }_L/{\sigma }_T$ as a function of $Q^2$. We compare the predictions with those for the diffractive electroproduction of $\rho$ mesons. We show how such diffractive electroproduction measurements at DESY HERA can probe features of the perturbative QCD “Pomeron.”

• Received 20 January 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.56.3007