We predict the polarization of Lambda and antiLambda hyperons in peripheral heavy ion collisions at ultrarelativistic energy, based on the assumption of local thermodynamical equilibrium at freeze-out. The polarization vector is proportional to the curl of the inverse temperature four-vector field and its length, of the order of percents, is maximal for particle with moderately high momentum lying on the reaction plane. A selective measurement of these particles could make Lambda polarization detectable.
Categories: nucl-th