Asymmetries in the Non-Mesonic Weak Decay of Polarized Lambda-Hypernuclei

Abstract

The non-mesonic weak decay of polarized Lambda-hypernuclei is studied for the first time by taking into account, with a Monte Carlo intranuclear cascade code, the nucleon final state interactions. A one-meson-exchange model is employed to describe the Lambda N-> n N processes in a finite nucleus framework. The relationship between the intrinsic Lambda asymmetry parameter a_\Lambda and the asymmetry a^M_\Lambda accessible in experiments is discussed. A strong dependence of a^M_\Lambda on nucleon final state interactions and detection threshold is obtained. Our results for a^M_\Lambda are consistent with ^{11}_\Lambda B and ^{12}_\Lambda C data but disagree with observations in ^5_\Lambda He.