Vector Boson Fusion Processes as a Probe of Supersymmetric Electroweak Sectors at the LHC

Abstract: Vector boson fusion (VBF) processes offer a promising avenue to study the non-colored 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 $E_T$ forward jets in opposite hemispheres are utilized to trigger VBF events, so that the production of the lightest chargino and the second lightest neutralino 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 $\tau$ and light lepton ($e$ and $\mu$) final states at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV.