Transverse Polarization of Lambda Hyperons in Relativistic Au-Au Collisions at the AGS

Abstract

We investigate the transverse polarization of A hyperons produced in 11.6 A GeV/c Au−Au collisions at the AGS. Experiment E896 yields results in two independent detector systems, a Silicon Drift Detector Array at midrapidity and a Distributed Drift Chamber at forward rapidity. In this article we focus on the mid-rapidity measurements. The results reveal a dependence of the polarization on the transverse momentum and Feynman-x of the A hyperons. The heavy-ion data are consistent with previous measurements in proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions within statistical errors.