Lambda polarization and single-spin left-right asymmetry in diffractive hadron-hadron collisions

We discuss lambda polarization and single-spin left-right asymmetry in diffractive hadron-hadron scattering at high energies. We show that the physical picture proposed in a recent Letter is consistent with the experimental observation that Λ polarization in the diffractive process p→pΛK⁺p is much higher than that in the inclusive reaction p→pΛX. We make predictions for the left-right asymmetry AN and for the spin transfer DNN^Λ in the single-spin process p(↑)→pΛK⁺p and suggest further experimental tests of the proposed picture.