Λ and Λ spin interaction with meson fields generated by the baryon current in high energy nuclear collisions

Abstract

We propose a dynamical mechanism which provides an interaction between the spins of hyperons and antihyperons and the vorticity of the baryon current in noncentral high energy nuclear collisions. The interaction is mediated by massive vector and scalar bosons, which is well known to describe the nuclear spin-orbit force. It follows from the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation and leads to a strong-interaction Zeeman effect. The interaction may explain the difference in polarizations of Λ and Λ hyperons as measured by the STAR Collaboration at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The signs and magnitudes of the meson-baryon couplings are closely connected to the binding energies of hypernuclei and to the abundance of hyperons in neutron stars.