Transverse polarization of Lambda hyperons in hadronic collisions

Abstract

The transverse polarization of $\Lambda$ hyperon within reconstructed jets in hadronic collisions offers a complementary platform to probe the polarized fragmentation function $D_{1T}^\perp$. We illustrate that by performing a global analysis of the transverse polarization of $\Lambda$ hyperons produced in different kinematic regions and in different hadronic collisions, such as $pp$, $p\bar p$, $pA$, and $\gamma A$ collisions, we can pin down the flavor dependence of $D_{1T}^\perp$ which has been poorly constrained. Besides the single inclusive jet production, the $\gamma/Z^0$-boson associated jet production supplements with more capability in removing ambiguities in the flavor dependence of $D_{1T}^\perp$.