Theoretical predictions in high energy physics are routinely provided in the form of Monte Carlo generators. Comparisons of predictions from different programs and/or different initialization set-ups are often necessary. MC-TESTER can be used for suc
h tests of decays of intermediate states (particles or resonances) in a semi-automated way. Since 2002 new functionalities were introduced into the package. In particular, it now works with the HepMC event record, the standard for C++ programs. The complete set-up for benchmarking the interfaces, such as interface between tau-lepton production and decay, including QED bremsstrahlung effects is shown. The example is chosen to illustrate the new options introduced into the program. From the technical perspective, our paper documents software updates and supplements previous documentation. As in the past, our test consists of two steps. Distinct Monte Carlo programs are run separately; events with decays of a chosen particle are searched, and information is stored by MC-TESTER. Then, at the analysis step, information from a pair of runs may be compared and represented in the form of tables and plots. Updates introduced in the progam up to version 1.24.3 are also documented. In particular, new configuration scripts or script to combine results from multitude of runs into single information file to be used in analysis step are explained.
Because of properties of QED, the bremsstrahlung corrections to decays of particles or resonances can be calculated, with a good precision, separately from other effects. Thanks to the widespread use of event records such calculations can be embodied
into a separate module of Monte Carlo simulation chains, as used in High Energy Experiments of today. The PHOTOS Monte Carlo program is used for this purpose since nearly 20 years now. In the following talk let us review the main ideas and constraints which shaped the program version of today and enabled it widespread use. Finally, we will underline importance of aspects related to reliability of program results: event record contents and implementation of channel specific matrix elements.
Because of properties of QED, the bremsstrahlung corrections to decays of particles or resonances can be calculated, with a good precision, separately from other effects. Thanks to the widespread use of event records such calculations can be embodied
into a separate module of Monte Carlo simulation chains, as used in High Energy Experiments of today. The PHOTOS Monte Carlo program is used for this purpose since nearly 20 years now. In the following talk let us review the main ideas and constraints which shaped the program version of today and enabled it widespread use. We will concentrate specially on conflicting requirements originating from the properties of QED matrix elements on one side and degrading (evolving) with time standards of event record(s). These issues, quite common in other modular software applications, become more and more difficult to handle as precision requirements become higher.
