Vector boson fusion processes as a probe of supersymmetric electroweak sectors at the LHC

Abstract

Vector boson fusion processes offer a promising avenue to study the noncolored sectors of supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model at the LHC. A feasibility study for searching for the chargino/neutralino system in the $R$-parity conserving minimal supersymmetric Standard Model is presented. The high ${E}_{\mathrm{T}}$ forward jets in opposite hemispheres are used to trigger vector boson fusion events, so that the production of the lightest chargino ${\stackrel{\texttildelow{}}{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{1}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ and the second-lightest neutralino ${\stackrel{\texttildelow{}}{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{2}^{0}$ can be probed without a bias by experimental triggers. Kinematic requirements are developed to search for signals of these supersymmetric states above Standard Model backgrounds in both $\ensuremath{\tau}$ and light lepton ($e$ and $\ensuremath{\mu}$) final states at $\sqrt{s}=8\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$.