Search for scalar leptoquark pairs decaying to electrons and jets in p̅p collisions

Abstract

We have searched for the pair production of first generation scalar leptoquarks in the eejj channel using the full data set (123pb^-1) collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron during 1992-1996. We observe no candidates with an expected background of approximately 0.4 events. Comparing the experimental 95% confidence level upper limit to theoretical calculations of the cross section with the assumption of a 100% branching fraction of eq, we set a lower limit on the mass of a first generation scalar leptoquark of 225GeV/c². The results of this analysis rule out the interpretation of the excess of high Q² events at DESY HERA as leptoquarks which decay exclusively to eq.