Polarization of a Decay Particle in a Two-Step Process: Application toK−+p→π0+Σ0,Σ0→γ+Λ

Abstract

The phenomenology of two-step processes of the type $A+B\to C+D$, $D\to E+F$ is studied for the particular case when among the final particles only $F$ is observed. Formulas convenient for the computation of the polarization of $F$ in terms of the parameters describing the production process are presented, and the connection between the polarization of $F$ and that of $D$, when $D$ is not observed, is clarified. Numerical results are obtained for the angular dependence of the $\Lambda$ polarization in the process $K^{-}+p\to {\pi }^0+{\Sigma }^0$, ${\Sigma }^0\to \gamma +\Lambda$ at a variety of incident energies.