Detecting the Supersymmetric Higgs Bosons: An Overview and the Role of $\gam\gam$ Collisions

Abstract

I summarize the abilities of LEP-II, the SSC/LHC hadron colliders, and a future high energy $\epem$ collider (NLC) to detect the Higgs bosons of the Minimal Supersymmetric Model (MSSM). I then review the unique capabilities of a back-scattered laser beam facility (BSLBF) at the NLC for detecting the heavier neutral Higgs bosons (the $\hh$ and $\ha$) of the MSSM. A BSLBF could well allow $\hh$ and $\ha$ discovery via inclusive $\gam\gam\rta \hh,\ha$ production out to masses of order $0.8\sqrt s$, \ie\ roughly $400\gev$, at the NLC. In addition, a BSLBF allows one to check for CP violation in the neutral Higgs sector; such CP violation is predicted to be absent in the MSSM. (Full postscript file available upon request. Macropackage phyzzx.tex required. To appear in Proceedings of 23rd INFN Eloisatron Workshop.)