Lambda and Lambda-bar Polarization in Lepton Induced Processes

Abstract

The study of the longitudinal polarization of Lambda and Lambda-bar hyperons produced in polarized deep inelastic scattering, neutrino scattering, and in Z0 decays allows to access the spin dynamics of the quark fragmentation process. Different phenomenological spin transfer mechanisms are considered and predictions for the Lambda and Lambda-bar longitudinal polarization in various processes using unpolarized and polarized targets are made. Current and future semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering experiments will provide soon accurate enough data to study these phenomena and distinguish between various models for the spin transfer mechanisms.