Electromagnetic production of polarization in hypernuclei

The formation of polarized hypernuclei through kaon photoproduction is investigated in a distorted-wave impulse approximation approach. The polarization depends strongly on the model used to describe the elementary process. For one particular model and certain well populated states the amount of polarization may reach up to 50%. We present cross sections and polarizations for kaon photoproducton on ¹⁶O, ²⁸Si, ⁵⁶Fe, and ⁸⁹Y and demonstrate the sensitivity of polarization to distortion and nonlocal effects. More information on the elementary process is needed before the feasibility of such measurements can be established.