Probing Quark Fragmentation Functions for Spin-1/2 Baryon Production in Unpolarized $e^+e^-$ Annihilation

Abstract

We study the measurement of the quark fragmentation functions for spin-1/2 baryon production ($Λ$ and $\bar Λ$, in particular) in unpolarized $e^+e^-$ annihilation. The spin-dependent fragmentation functions $\hat g_1(z)$ and $\hat h_1(z)$ can be probed in the process as a result of quark-antiquark spin correlation and the weak decay of the baryons. The relevant cross section is expressed as a product of the two-jet cross-section, the fragmentation functions, and the differential width of the hyperon decay.