Processes with transverse polarization and Soffer's inequality

Three types of processes, in which transverse polarization effects appear at leading twist level, are studied in detail: (a) Drell-Yan lepton pair production by transversely polarized protons, (b) Inclusive production of transversely polarized ΛΛ-bar pairs in e-e+ collisions and (c) Inclusive electroproduction of a transversely polarized hyperon (Λ or Σ) from a transversely polarized proton. Regarding the transversity distributions, Soffer's inequality is taken into account. In all cases higher order corrections (HOC) at one loop are determined and K-factors are presented. For cases (a) and (b) large HOC, enhancing the Born contributions, are found, but for case (c) the HOC are, in general, small. (author)