The role of data libraries as a collaborative tool across Monte Carlo codes is discussed. Some new contributions in this domain are presented; they concern a data library of proton and alpha ionization cross sections, the development in progress of a
data library of electron ionization cross sections and proposed improvements to the EADL (Evaluated Atomic Data Library), the latter resulting from an extensive data validation process.
Ongoing investigations to introduce software techniques suitable to support new experimental requirements for multi-scale simulation are discussed.
Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) is a physical effect that is not yet adequately modelled in Geant4. The current status as in Geant4 9.2 release is reviewed and new developments are described. The capabilities of the software prototype are illu
strated in application to the shielding of the X-ray detectors of the eROSITA telescope on the upcoming Spectrum-X-Gamma space mission.
A R&D project, named Nano5, has been recently launched to study an architectural design in view of addressing new experimental issues related to particle transport in high energy physics and other related physics disciplines with Geant4. In this fram
e, the first step has involved the redesign of the photon interaction models currently available in Geant4; this task has motivated a thorough investigation of the physics and computational features of these models, whose first results are presented here.
A R&D project has been launched in 2009 to address fundamental methods in radiation transport simulation and revisit Geant4 kernel design to cope with new experimental requirements. The project focuses on simulation at different scales in the same ex
perimental environment: this set of problems requires new methods across the current boundaries of condensed-random-walk and discrete transport schemes. An exploration is also foreseen about exploiting and extending already existing Geant4 features to apply Monte Carlo and deterministic transport methods in the same simulation environment. An overview of this new R&D associated with Geant4 is presented, together with the first developments in progress.
The Geant4 toolkit offers a rich variety of electromagnetic physics models; so far the evaluation of this Geant4 domain has been mostly focused on its physics functionality, while the features of its design and their impact on simulation accuracy, co
mputational performance and facilities for verification and validation have not been the object of comparable attention yet, despite the critical role they play in many experimental applications. A new project is in progress to study the application of new design concepts and software techniques in Geant4 electromagnetic physics, and to evaluate how they can improve on the current simulation capabilities. The application of a policy-based class design is investigated as a means to achieve the objective of granular decomposition of processes; this design technique offers various advantages in terms of flexibility of configuration and computational performance. The current Geant4 physics models have been re-implemented according to the new design as a pilot project. The main features of the new design and first results of performance improvement and testing simplification are presented; they are relevant to many Geant4 applications, where computational speed and the containment of resources invested in simulation production and quality assurance play a critical role.
