Prompt Photon Production in $\gamma \gamma$ Collisions and the Gluon Content of the Photon

Abstract

We calculate the cross section for inclusive prompt photon production in $\gamma\gamma$ collisions, i.e. the reaction $e^+e^-\to \gamma \gamma \to \gamma X$, in next-to-leading order QCD. We show that at LEP2 energies this cross section is measurable and is sensitive to the gluon distribution of the photon, $g^{\gamma}$, which is currently very poorly constrained by data.