Data on the nucleon spin structure suggests that the $u$- (and $d$-) quark distributions in the $\Lambda$ hyperon may be polarized. If this correlation carries over into fragmentation, then the study of polarized $\Lambda \text{'}\mathrm{s}$ in the current fragmentation region of deep inelastic lepton scattering will be a sensitive probe of the nucleon spin structure. $\Lambda$ production by polarized electrons from unpolarized targets can search for this correlation. If it is significant, $\Lambda$ production by unpolarized electrons from longitudinally and transversely polarized targets can probe the $u$-quark helicity and transversity distributions in the nucleon.

• Received 16 July 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.54.R6581