Measurement of the proton structure function F 2 at low x and low Q 2 at HERA

We report on a measurement of the proton structure function F ₂ in the range 3.5 × 10^?5 ≤ x ≤ 4 × 10^?3 and 1.5 GeV² ≤ Q ² ≤ 15 GeV² at the ep collider HERA operating at a centre-of-mass energy of ${sqrt s} = 300 {? GeV}$. The rise of F ₂ with decreasing x observed in the previous HERA measurements persists in this lower x and Q ² range. The Q ² evolution of F ₂, even at the lowest Q ² and x measured, is consistent with perturbative QCD.