A possible coherent origin of polarization phenomena in baryon production is suggested. By describing in terms of an optical potential the interaction of the hadronic matter in expansion with a baryon produced in its interior, the main features of the hyperon polarization observed in high-energy hadronic collisions are shown to be well reproduced. In contrast with the existent models, this one can describe the antihyperon polarization just as naturally as the hyperon polarization and may complement the usual quark-rearrangement mechanism in the latter case.

• Received 22 December 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.48.3116