Polarized secondary particles in unpolarized high energy hadron-hadron collisions?

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for high-energy unpolarized hadron collisions to produce polarized secondary particles through spin-orbital interactions, possibly explaining observed flow phenomena.

Contribution

It proposes a novel mechanism linking orbital angular momentum to secondary particle polarization in unpolarized collisions.

Findings

Possible non-zero polarization of secondary particles at midrapidity

Implications for understanding particle flow in nuclear collisions

Theoretical speculation without experimental validation

Abstract

In this short note I speculate on some consequences of the high energy collision picture in which the orbital angular momentum of the colliding hadrons can be converted into secondary particle angular spin momentum via some spin-orbital interaction. In particular I discuss a possibility to observe a non-zero polarization of secondary particles (e.g. hyperons) at midrapidity ($x_F=0$) and at low transverse momentum. I also speculate that such effects could contribute to the produced particle directed and elliptic flow observed in relativistic nuclear collisions.