The Proton Spin Puzzle and $\Lambda$ Polarization in Deep--Inelastic Scattering

Abstract

We point out that measurements of longitudinal $\Lambda$ polarization in the target fragmentation region of deep--inelastic $\nu N$ and $\mu N$ or $eN$ scattering may test dynamical mechanisms invoked to explain the proton spin puzzle. A previously-proposed model for polarized $\bar{s}s$ pairs in the proton wave function reproduces successfully the negative $\Lambda$ polarization found in the WA59 $\bar{\nu }N$ experiment, and makes predictions that could be tested in future $\mu N$ and $eN$ experiments.

Comments: 16 pages, LaTeX, 9 eps figures uuencoded in separate file, typographical errors corrected