Spin asymmetries in jet-hyperon production at LHC

We consider polarized A hyperon production in proton-proton scattering, pp (Lambda(up arrow)jet)jetX, in the kinematical region of the LHC experiments, in particular the ALICE experiment. We present a new A polarization observable that arises from the Sivers effect in the fragmentation process. It can be large even at midrapidity and therefore, is of interest for high energy hadron collider experiments. Apart from its potential to shed light on the mechanisms behind the phenomenon of Lambda polarization arising in unpolarized hadronic collisions, the proposed observable in principle also allows to test the possible color flow dependence of single spin asymmetries and the (non)universality of transverse momentum dependent fragmentation functions. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.