Hard Photon Pair Production at LEP

Abstract

The production of photon pairs in $e^+e^-\rightarrow f \bar f γγ$ processes is studied using exact helicity amplitudes at tree level. Total cross sections, including initial state radiation effects, are given. They are presented in the case of quarks as a function of $y_{\rm cut}$ in the JADE algorithm. In the case of leptons we use cuts similar to the ones employed in a recent L3 analysis. Masses of the final state fermions are taken into account when appropriate. The cross section $e^+e^-\rightarrow τ^+ τ^- γγ$ is about 10\% larger when the $τ$ mass is neglected. We obtain, with a different method, results which are in good agreement with L3 Montecarlo simulation.