Double-Differential FRaGmentation (DDFRG) models for proton and light ion production in high energy nuclear collisions

Abstract

A new set of Double-Differential FRaGmentation (DDFRG) models for proton and light ion production from high energy nucleus–nucleus collisions, relevant to space radiation, is introduced. The proton model employs thermal production from the projectile, central fireball and target sources, as well as quasi-elastic direct knockout production. The light ion model uses a hybrid coalescence model. The data show a prominent quasi-elastic peak at small angles which becomes highly suppressed at large angles. The models are able to describe this wide range of experimental data with only a limited set of model parameters. Closed form analytic formulas for double-differential energy and angle cross-sections as well as single-differential spectral cross-sections are developed. These analytic formulas enable highly efficient computation for radiation transport codes.