Validation of Geant4 physics models for nuclear beams in extended media

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2018-11, Vol.434 (C), p.113-119
• Main Authors: Chen, Junliang, Yun, Sujun, Dong, Tiekuang, Ren, Zhongzhou, Zhang, Xiaoping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Galactic cosmic radiation; Geant4; Heavy-ion transportation
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2018.08.022

The physical and biological processes induced by energetic heavy ions in extended media are of great importance for human space exploration and ion therapy. In this paper we check the validity of some nucleus-nucleus inelastic collision models in Geant4 for the transportation of heavy nuclei in materials. The depth-dose distributions of 12C and 56Fe beams in extended media and the yields of secondary fragments have been simulated by G4WilsonAbrasion model, G4BinaryLightIon model and G4QMD model. Then the propagation of heavy nuclei through materials used in space industry and the angular distributions of secondary neutrons are also simulated for further validation of the models. By comparing the simulated results with experimental data, it is found that the G4QMD model gives the best results. The implication for estimating the radiation environment on Mars caused by GCRs is also discussed.