Monte Carlo Event Generators

TL;DR

This paper explains the physical models behind Monte Carlo event generators, focusing on parton showers, hadronization, and underlying events, to improve understanding and reliability in experimental and theoretical physics.

Contribution

It provides a detailed, accessible explanation of the physical foundations of Monte Carlo event generators, which are often used as black boxes.

Findings

Clarifies the physical basis of parton showers

Explains the models of hadronization and underlying events

Aims to improve the understanding of generator reliability

Abstract

Monte Carlo event generators are essential components of almost all experimental analyses and are also widely used by theorists and experiments to make predictions and preparations for future experiments. They are all too often used as "black boxes", without sufficient consideration of their component models or their reliability. In this set of three lectures we hope to open the box and explain the physical bases behind the models they use. We focus primarily on the general features of parton showers, hadronization and underlying event generation.