Heavy-Quark Production by Polarized and Unpolarized Photons in Next-to-Leading Order

Abstract

Complete analytical results for the production of heavy-quark pairs by polarized and unpolarized photons in next-to-leading order are presented. Two-, three- and two plus three-jet cross sections for total photon spin $J_z=0,\pm 2$ are presented for $b\bar{b}(g)$ production. The 2-jet cross sections are considered as a background to $γγ\rightarrow H^* \rightarrow b\bar{b}$ (standard model). Top production, not too far above threshold, is also considered for $J_z=0,\pm 2$. For both $b$- and $t$-quark production, the higher order QCD corrections are found to be significant.