THE PROTON SPIN PUZZLE AND DEPOLARIZATION IN $\bar{p}p\to \bar{\Lambda }\Lambda$

Abstract

We point out that the measurement of target spin depolarization $D_{nn}$ in the $\bar{p}p\to \bar{\Lambda }\Lambda$ reaction may test dynamical mechanisms invoked to explain the proton spin puzzle revealed by polarized deep--inelastic scattering experiments. In particular, models with {\it negatively} polarized $\bar{s}s$ pairs in the proton wave function predict $D_{nn}<0$, whereas models with {\it positively} polarized gluons would predict $D_{nn}>0$.

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