Hyperon production mechanisms and single-spin asymmetry in high energy hadron-hadron collisions

Abstract

It is shown that the existence of left-right asymmetry in single-spin inclusive Lambda production, together with the characteristic features of the data, should be considered as another clear signature for the existence of orbiting valence quarks in polarized nucleons. Predictions for other hyperons are made. It is pointed out that measurements of such asymmetries are very helpful not only for probing the spin structure of the nucleons but also for studying the production mechanisms of the hyperons.