New Higgs signals from vector boson fusion in R-parity violating supersymmetry

Abstract

We investigate signals of the lightest neutral Higgs boson in an R-parity violating supersymmetric model through the vector boson fusion mechanism. Assuming that R parity is violated through lepton number and locating regions in the parameter space where decays of such a neutral scalar into a pair of lightest neutralinos can be significant, we proceed to calculate the event rates for final states arising from decays of the neutralinos through both λ- and λ′-type interactions. Regions of the parameter space where each of these types of interactions can lead to detectable events are identified. The possibilities where such signals can be faked by other superparticles (squarks, gluinos, charginos and neutralinos) are also investigated. It is found that, over a sizable region, one can obtain distinguishable signals of an intermediate mass neutral scalar from a study of the suggested final states at the CERN Large Hadron Collider.