Tau Lepton Reconstruction and Identification with the ATLAS Detector at the LHC

The Standard Model and many scenarios of physics beyond the Standard Model predict an abundant production of τ leptons. In particular τ leptons in the final state are important signatures for Higgs boson and SUSY searches. Equipped with excellent tracking and calorimetry, the ATLAS detector allows for the reconstruction and efficient identification of hadronically decaying τ leptons. The methods developed by the ATLAS Collaboration for the offline reconstruction and identification of hadronic decays of τ leptons are described. The performance of the reconstruction algorithm and the discrimination power of the identification methods against jets and electrons are shown. Ideas for the validation of the τ identification methods with early data are also presented.