- #1
Veles
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Homework Statement
In the weak decay of the lambda baryon to a proton and pion, parity is not conserved, allowing for s and p waves in the orbital wave function of the pion-proton system. Using non-relativistic wavefunctions, find the angular distribution of the protons relative to the lambda's spin, which points along the z-axis.
2. Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Define the z'-axis as the direction of the proton's momentum.
Define L_z' as the projection of the orbital angular momentum of the pion-proton system along z'.
Define s_z' as the projection along the z'-axis of the proton's spin.
Define J_z' as the total angular momentum along z'.
J_z' can be +1/2 or -1/2 (so J=1/2, and angular momentum is conserved).
Therefore the following combinations of [L_z', s_z'] are allowed: [1, -1/2], [0,1/2], [0,-1/2], [-1, 1/2].
Chirality is conserved at the weak interaction vertices. However, as it is the constituent quarks interacting, not the proton/baryon, I can't see what limitations this places on the chirality of the proton.