Final State Interactions and Polarization Observables in the Reaction pp→pKΛ

Hyperon-Nucleon (YN) interactions are ideally suited to study the role of strangeness in hadron physics. The breaking of the SU(3) flavor symmetry beyond the mass splitting can also be tested. Due to the lack of high quality hyperon beams, final state interactions in hyperon production reactions are a compelling tool for these studies. Recent measurements of the reaction pp→pKΛ with a polarized beam using the COSY-TOF detector allow for the determination of the spin triplet pΛ scattering length, which is a fundamental parameter of the pΛ interaction. Furthermore, the polarized beam together with the self analyzing decay of the polarized Λ give access to a plethora of observables for studies of the hyperon production mechanism close to threshold. Recent experimental results on the scattering length and the Λ depolarization are presented.