Heavy Quark Fragmentation to Polarised Quarkonium

Abstract

We calculate the polarisation of $\psi$'s and $\Upsilon$'s produced by the fragmentation of heavy quarks. We find that fragmentation to transversely aligned quarkonium is slightly enhanced relative to longitudinally polarised. This net alignment corresponds to a $\sim 5\%$ asymmetry in the angular distribution of leptons produced in the subsequent decay of the quarkonium. We point out that the leading gluon contribution to $\psi$ and $\Upsilon$ production arises from the evolution of the charm quark fragmentation function, rather than from direct gluon fragmentation.