Longitudinal Spin Transfer in Inclusive $\Lambda$ and \overline{\Lambda}$ Production in Polarized Proton-proton Collisions at $\sqrt{S}=200 GeV$

This contribution reports on a proof-of-principle measurement of the longitudinal spin transfer $D_{LL}$ in inclusive $\Lambda$ and $\bar \Lambda$ production in polarized proton-proton collisions at a center of mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV. The data sample consists of about 3 $\times$ $10^6$ minimum bias events collected in the year 2005 by the STAR experiment at RHIC with proton beam polarizations of up to 50%. The $\Lambda$($\bar \Lambda$) candidates are reconstructed at mid-rapidity ($|\eta|