Quark fragmentation functions in a diquark model for proton and Λ hyperon production

A simple quark-diquark model for nucleon and Λ structure is used to calculate leading twist light-cone fragmentation functions for a quark to inclusively decay into p or Λ. The parameters of the model are determined by fitting to the known deep-inelastic structure functions of the nucleon. When evolved from the initial to the final Q² scale, the calculated fragmentation functions are in remarkable agreement (for z>0.4) with those extracted from partially inclusive ep and e⁺e^- experiments at high energies. Predictions are made, using no additional parameters, for longitudinally and transversely polarized quarks to fragment into p or Λ.