Abstract
Objective: To simulate using GEANT4 the interaction of 250 MeV protons in water to determine the neutron yield and angular distribution using various hadronic interaction processes. Method and Materials: A cylindrical water phantom (length=40 cm, diameter= 40 cm, density = 1 g/cm3, mean excitation energy = 75 eV) is surrounded by a spherical shell, that consists of 18 detectors, each of which covers 10 degree in theta. In Geant4, electromagnetic energy loss for hadrons and leptons are categorized as either “standard” or “low energy” processes. The low energy process is used to extend down particle interactions with energies below the standard process (for example: Protons 1 keV, electrons and photons 250 eV). The range cut for both low energy and standard process is lowered from the default value of 10−3 m to 1.5×10−5 m to improve the accuracy of simulation. In the case of HI, elastic processes for protons are calculated by G4LEpp and GHEISHA‐style G4LElastic; whereas the inelastic processes for proton and neutron are calculated by G4PreCompoundModel below 170 MeV, and G4CascadeInterface above 150 MeV; and for neutron also by G4NeutronHPorLEInelasticModel. The neutron elastic process is calculated using G4NeutronHPorLEModel for energy greater than 4 eV. When the neutron energy is lower than 4 eV, G4NeutronHPThermalScatteringData is used. The simulations are carried out using 1 million incident pencil beam proton. Results: Neutron fluences per incident proton as a function of theta are determined. Based on hadronic process being used in the calculation, the total number of neutrons per incident proton that reach all eighteen theta detectors ranges from 0.124 to 0.243. Conclusion: Our results show that the hadronic processes indeed play a critical role for GEANT4 simulations. We recommend that careful selection of physics processes for particle interaction is essential in order to interpret realistically simulated results.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
