Tau Signals of R-parity breaking at LEP 200
The detectability at LEP 200 of explicit $R$-parity breaking by tau-number $(L_τ)$ violating operators is considered. The assumption of $L_τ$-violation is motivated by the relative lack of constraints on such couplings but similar considerations apply to explicit $L_e$- or $L_μ$-violation. The $LSP$, now unstable, and not necessarily neutral, decays via $L_τ$-violating modes. Only signals from the production and decays of $LSP$ pairs are considered, thereby avoiding any dependence on the sparticle mass spectrum. Rather spectacular signals are predicted: spherical events with $m$ leptons (usually containing at least one $τ$) and $n$ jets $(m,n \leq 4)$, the most characteristic of which are like-sign $ττ$ events. These signals are enumerated for each $LSP$ candidate and quantitative estimates are provided for the favoured case when the $LSP$ is a neutralino. Other new physics signals, which can mimic these signatures, are also briefly discussed.