Benchmark of neutron production cross sections with Monte Carlo codes

Tsai, P.-E.; Lai, B.-L.*; Heilbronn, L. H.*; Sheu, R.-J.*

Fifteen thin target experiments were selected for this benchmark study of the neutron production cross sections. The studied cases include a mix combination of C, Ne Ar, Kr, and Xe ions bombarding Li, C, Al, Cu, and Pb target with projectile energies between 135 and 600 MeV/nucleon. The experimental data were compared to the model calculations performed by (1) PHITS version 2.73 with JQMD and GEM model, (2) PHITS version 2.82 with revised JQMD 2.0 and GEM model, (3) FLUKA version 2011.2c with RQMD 2.4 and FLUKA's own de-excitation model, and (4) MCNP6 version 1.0 with LAQGSM 03.03 and GEM2 model. This study provides useful information not only for code users but also for model developers, and it will lead to future improvements of the PHITS - JQMD model for heavy-ion induced reactions, which is important for accelerator facilities, heavy-ion radiotherapy, and space radiation.