Λ production in K−p interactions at 32 GeV/c

Lambda production is studied in K^?p interactions at 32 GeV/c. The total Λ cross section is 2.31±0.03 mb. Using the measured Λγ combinations we find that (31±4)% of all Λ's are produced via the Σ⁰→Λγ decay. About 60% of the Λ's are associated with either a $\text{N}\text{N}\text{or K}\text{K}$ pair; about 40% of the Λ's are produced through the hypercharge annihiltion reaction K^?p→Λ+π'a. The two-peak structure of the invariant x distribution can be related to fragmentation processes. The Λ is found to be unpolarized in the target fragmentation region, whereas a transverse polarization is observed for forward produced Λ's. As a function of p⊥, a polarization effect is measured at medium p⊥.