Lambda Polarization in Polarized Proton-Proton Collisions at RHIC

Abstract

We discuss Lambda polarization in semi-inclusive proton-proton collisions, with one of the protons longitudinally polarized. The hyperfine interaction responsible for the $\Delta$-$N$ and $\Sigma$-$\Lambda$ mass splittings gives rise to flavor asymmetric fragmentation functions and to sizable polarized non-strange fragmentation functions. We predict large positive Lambda polarization in polarized proton-proton collisions at large rapidities of the produced Lambda, while other models, based on SU(3) flavor symmetric fragmentation functions, predict zero or negative Lambda polarization. The effect of $\Sigma^0$ and $\Sigma^*$ decays is also discussed. Forthcoming experiments at RHIC will be able to differentiate between these predictions.