Prompt Photon Production in $γγ$ Collisions and the Gluon Content of the Photon

Abstract

We calculate the cross section for inclusive prompt photon production in $γγ$ collisions, i.e. the reaction $e^+e^-\to γγ\to γX$, 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, $g^γ$, which is currently very poorly constrained by data.