Search for a vector glueball by a scan of the J/ psi resonance.

The cross section for {ital e}{sup +}{ital e}{sup {minus}}{r_arrow}{rho}{pi} has been measured by the BES detector at BEPC at center-of-mass energies covering a 40 MeV interval spanning the {ital J}/{psi} resonance. The data are used to search for the vector gluonium state hypothesized by Brodsky, Lepage, and Tuan as an explanation of the {rho}{pi} puzzle in charmonium physics. The shape of the {rho}{pi} cross section is compatible with that of the total hadronic cross section. No distortions indicating the presence of a vector glueball are seen. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}