We study the potential of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to unravel the existence of first generation scalar leptoquarks. Working with the most general ${\mathrm{SU}\left(2\right)\mathrm{}}_L\otimes {U\left(1\right)\mathrm{}}_Y$ invariant leptoquark interactions, we analyze in detail the signals and backgrounds that lead to a final state containing a pair of $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ and jets. Our results indicate that a machine such as the LHC will be able to discover leptoquarks with masses up to 2–3 TeV depending on their couplings.

• Received 2 September 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.57.1715