Four-fermion production at gamma gamma colliders: 1. Lowest-order predictions and anomalous couplings

We have constructed a Monte Carlo generator for lowest-order predictions for the processes gamma gamma -> 4f and gamma gamma -> 4f+gamma in the Standard Model and extensions thereof by an effective gamma gamma Higgs coupling as well as anomalous triple and quartic gauge-boson couplings. Polarization is fully supported, and a realistic photon beam spectrum can be taken into account. For the processes gamma gamma -> 4f all helicity amplitudes are explicitly given in a compact form. The presented numerical results contain, in particular, a survey of cross sections for representative final states and their comparison to results obtained with the program package Whizard/Madgraph. The impact of a realistic beam spectrum on cross sections and distributions is illustrated. Moreover, the size of various contributions to cross sections, such as from weak charged- or neutral-current, or from strong interactions, is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to W-pair production channels gamma gamma -> W W -> 4f(+gamma) where we investigate the impact of background diagrams, possible definitions of the W-pair signal, and the issue of gauge-invariance violation caused by finite gauge-boson widths. Finally, the effects of triple and quartic anomalous gauge-boson couplings on cross sections as well as the possibility to constrain these anomalous couplings at future gamma gamma colliders are discussed.