Scalar and vector leptoquark pair production at hadron colliders: Signal and backgrounds - art. no. 015001

We perform a systematic analysis of scalar and vector leptoquark pair produ ction at the Fermilab Tevatron and at the CERN LHC. We evaluate signal expe ctations and background levels for the processes pp(p (p) over bar) --> 2 j ets + e(+)e(-) and 2 jets + e + p(T). The Monte Carlo event generator ISAJE T is used to simulate the experimental conditions at the current (root s = 1.8 TeV, L = 100 pb(-1)) and upgraded (L = 2 fb(-1)) Tevatron as well as th e LHC (root s = 14 TeV, L = 10 fb(-1)). Depending on the luminosity, and as suming a branching ratio B(LQ --> eq) = 0.5, we find a discovery reach up t o 170 (255) GeV for scalar leptoquarks at the current (upgraded) Tevatron. Similarly, we find vector leptoquarks to be detectable at masses below 300 (400) GeV depending on the coupling. At the LHC, the discovery reach is enh anced to 1 TeV for scaler leptoquarks and to 1.5 TeV for vectors. [S0556-28 21(98)02323-6].