2006/11/21 by R. A. Schumacher, Reinhard Schumacher, Schumacher, Reinhard · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #High-Energy Particle Collisions Research #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #hep-ph #nucl-ex
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.nucl-ex/0611035
6 pages, 4 figures, for HYP2006 Conference Proceedings in European Physics Journal A; revised with expanded discussion section
arxiv created 2006/12/13 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
Recent measurements using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab of the reactions γ+ p → K+ + Λ and γ+ p → K+ + Σ0 have been used to extract the spin transfer coefficients Cx and Cz for the first time. These observables quantify the degree of the photon circular polarization that is transferred to the recoiling hyperons in the scattering plane. The unexpected result is that Λ hyperons are produced ``100% polarized'' as seen when combining Cx and Cz with the induced transverse polarization, P. Furthermore, Cx and Cz seem to be linearly related. This paper discusses the experimental results and offers a hypothesis which can explain these observations. We show how the produced strange quark can be subject to a pure spin-orbit type of interaction which preserves its state of polarization throughout the hadronization process.