F2 at Low Q$^2$

The nucleon structure function $F_2^N$ has been measured over a broad range in four-momentum transfer $Q^2$ and Bjorken $x$. The structure function data at large values of $Q^2$ are well understood in terms of logarithmic scaling violations. At low values of $Q^2$ and higher $x$, however, the theoretical understanding of $F_2^N$ is less clear. Preliminary results will be presented from Jefferson Lab Hall C experiment E00-002 which ran in Spring 2003. This experiment measured the inclusive electron--nucleon scattering cross sections in both the deep-inelastic and resonance regions on hydrogen and deuterium targets, using beam energies between 2.2 and 5.5 GeV, and spanning the kinematics range $0.05 \leq Q^2 \leq 1.7$~(GeV/c)$^2$. The nucleon structure functions $F_1$ and $F_L$ ($F_2^N$ and $R$) are being extracted from this data, providing the first $L/T$ separated strength measurements in this unexplored kinematic regime. Recent Jefferson Lab data indicate, in this kinematic regime, the onset of a drop in $F_2^p$ with decreasing $Q^2$. This fall--off of the structure function may indicate an insensitivity to the sea quark component of the nucleon at low $Q^2$.