Measurement of spin observables in exclusive $pp \to \Lambda \Lambda$ production

The PS185 experiment at LEAR has produced a wealth of high precision measurements of cross-sections and final state polarization observables in near-threshold antihyperon-hyperon production from antiproton-proton annihilation. In its most recent run, PS185/3 extended its capabilities by utilizing a transversely polarized frozen spin target to measure exclusive Lambda Lambda production. This allows access to a broad set of spin observables involving initial state spin. Competing theoretical models for this reaction have differing predictions for some of these newly accessible spin observables, most notably the depolarization D/sub nn/. This data is expected to provide a rigorous test of these models. Current results from the analysis of this data are presented. (5 refs).