Lambda polarization and single-spin left-right asymmetry in diffractive hadron-hadron collisions

Abstract

We discuss Lambda polarization and single-spin left-right asymmetry in diffractive hadron-hadron scattering at high energies. We show that the physical picture proposed in a recent Letter is consistent with the experimental observation that $\Lambda$ polarization in the diffractive process, $pp\to \Lambda K^{+}p$, is much higher than that in the inclusive reaction, $pp\to \Lambda X$. We make predictions for the left-right asymmetry, A_N, and for the spin transfer, $D_{NN}^{\Lambda }$, in the single-spin process $p(\uparrow )p\to \Lambda K^{+}p$ and suggest further experimental tests of the proposed picture.

Comments: 14 pages, 3 ps-figures. Phys. Rev. D (in press)