Dipole-proton S-matrix derived from diffractive meson electroproduction

Through a determination of the $S$-matrix element for the scattering of a localized colour dipole on a proton, we show that saturation effects can already be sizable at HERA. The saturation scale is found to be around 1-1.5 $GeV^2$ for the highest available energies and for central collisions, and is a decreasing function of the impact parameter.