ISICS, originally a C language program for calculating K-, L- and M-shell ionization and X-ray production cross sections from ECPSSR and PWBA theory, has been reengineered into a C++ language class, named ISICSoo. The new software design enables the
use of ISICS functionality in other software systems. The code, originally developed for Microsoft Windows operating systems, has been ported to Linux and Mac OS platforms to facilitate its use in a wider scientific environment. The reengineered software also includes some fixes to the original implementation, which ensure more robust computational results and a review of some physics parameters used in the computation. The paper describes the software design and the modifications to the implementation with respect to the previous version; it also documents the test process and provides some indications about the software performance.
The issue of how epistemic uncertainties affect the outcome of Monte Carlo simulation is discussed by means of a concrete use case: the simulation of the longitudinal energy deposition profile of low energy protons. A variety of electromagnetic and h
adronic physics models is investigated, and their effects are analyzed. Possible systematic effects are highlighted. The results identify requirements for experimental measurements capable of reducing epistemic uncertainties in the physics models.
A scientometric analysis of Monte Carlo simulation and Monte Carlo codes has been performed over a set of representative scholarly journals related to radiation physics. The results of this study are reported and discussed. They document and quantita
tively appraise the role of Monte Carlo methods and codes in scientific research and engineering applications.
Recent developments and validation tests related to the simulation of X-ray fluorescence and PIXE with Geant4 are reviewed. They concern new models for PIXE, which has enabled the first Geant4-based simulation of PIXE in a concrete experimental appli
cation, and the experimental validation of the content of the EADL data library relevant to the simulation of X-ray fluorescence. Achievements and open issues in this domain are discussed.
An investigation is in progress to evaluate extensively and quantitatively the possible benefits and drawbacks of new programming paradigms in a Monte Carlo simulation environment, namely in the domain of physics modeling. The prototype design and ex
tensive benchmarks, including a variety of rigorous quantitative metrics, are presented. The results of this research project allow the evaluation of new software techniques for their possible adoption in Monte Carlo simulation on objective, quantitative ground.
The development of a package for the management of physics data is described: its design, implementation and computational benchmarks. This package improves the data management tools originally developed for Geant4 physics models based on the EADL, E
EDL and EPDL97 data libraries. The implementation exploits recent evolutions of the C++ libraries appearing in the C++0x draft, which are intended for inclusion in the next C++ ISO Standard. The new tools improve the computational performance of physics data management.
The role of data libraries in Monte Carlo simulation is discussed. A number of data libraries currently in preparation are reviewed; their data are critically examined with respect to the state-of-the-art in the respective fields. Extensive tests wit
h respect to experimental data have been performed for the validation of their content.
The issue of how epistemic uncertainties affect the outcome of Monte Carlo simulation is discussed by means of a concrete use case: the simulation of the longitudinal energy deposition profile of low energy protons. A variety of electromagnetic and h
adronic physics models is investigated, and their effects are analyzed. Possible systematic effects are highlighted. The results identify requirements for experimental measurements capable of reducing epistemic uncertainties in the simulation.
Two theory-driven models of electron ionization cross sections, the Binary-Encounter-Bethe model and the Deutsch-Mark model, have been design and implemented; they are intended to extend the simulation capabilities of the Geant4 toolkit. The resultin
g values, along with the cross sections included in the EEDL data library, have been compared to an extensive set of experimental data, covering more than 50 elements over the whole periodic table.
