Comparative performance tests of the FLUKA-RQMD system and EPAX 2 previsions versus experimental data

This work describes the tests performed on the RQMD module (available in the FLUKA code), to support nucleus–nucleus interactions above 100 MeV u1. The RQMD-FLUKA system was used to simulate directly simple experimental set-ups to reproduce both secondary hadron production and residual nuclei distributions with ion beams ranging from 100 to 800 MeV u1. Recent measurements of residual nuclei distributions due to interaction of light ion beams on high-purity targets were used as reference for testing the RQMD-FLUKA prediction capability. Together with FLUKA, the EPAX 2 code was considered as a further reference in fragmentation cross sections. EPAX shows a general tendency to underestimate the experimental fragmentation cross sections for the considered projectile–target combinations. EPAX underestimations are generally close to 40%, whereas FLUKA predictions are within 20% on the average.