PHITS; Benchmark of partial charge-changing cross sections for intermediate-mass systems

Mancusi, D.*; Sihver, L.*; Gustafsson, K.*; La Tessa, C.*; Guetersloh, S.*; Zeitlin, C.*; Miller, J.*; Heilbronn, L.*; Niita, Koji*; Sato, Tatsuhiko   ; Nakashima, Hiroshi; Murakami, Takeshi*; Iwata, Yoshiyuki*

The PHITS code is a three-dimensional Monte Carlo code that is able to simulate the transport of nuclei and other particles in complicated geometries. As a part of a comprehensive benchmarking program, we have investigated the possibility of using PHITS to calculate partial charge-changing cross sections and we have compared the results with measurements. The results suggest that the current reaction-cross-section models might be inadequate for use in space radiation protection: We therefore claim the need for a thorough benchmarking of the models and for new reaction-cross-section measurements and experimental techniques.