Improved integrated nucleus-nucleus inelastic cross sections for light nuclides in Geant4

Abstract

We propose a new root-mean-square radius parameterization for light nuclei A≤30 suitable for use in Geant4 calculations of nucleus-nucleus total hadronic inelastic scattering cross sections. The new approach takes into account the proton-neutron asymmetry of the reactants, and was fit to 360 measured total inelastic cross sections from the EXFOR database. Measured nuclear radii are better described in the new approach than the current Geant4 implementation, particularly for unstable nuclides, and there is better agreement with measured cross sections for both stable and unstable nuclides. The improved parameterization should help in carbon-ion therapy applications in particular.