Single Higgs boson production at a photon-photon collider: a 2HDM/MSSM comparison

Abstract

We consider the loop-induced production of a single Higgs boson from direct photon-photon scattering at a photon collider. A dedicated analysis of the total cross section and the relative strength of the effective $h\gamma\gamma$ coupling is carried out within the general Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). We systematically survey representative regions over the parameter space, in full agreement with brought-to-date theoretical and phenomenological restrictions, and obtain production rates up to $10^4$ Higgs boson events per $500 fb^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. We identify trademark phenomenological profiles for the different $\gamma\gamma \to h$ channels and trace them back to the distinctive dynamical features characterizing each of these models -- most significantly, the enhancement potential of the Higgs self-interactions in the general 2HDM. The upshot of our results illustrates the possibilities of $\gamma\gamma$-physics and emphasizes the relevance of linear colliders for the Higgs boson research program.