A quantum Monte Carlo based approach to intranuclear cascades

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new semi-classical intranuclear cascade model utilizing quantum Monte Carlo configurations, successfully matching experimental data and analyzing the effects of nuclear correlations and quantum effects.

Contribution

It presents a novel semi-classical approach based on quantum Monte Carlo configurations for modeling intranuclear cascades, with detailed analysis of quantum effects.

Findings

Good agreement with proton-carbon scattering data

Quantitative insights into nuclear correlations and Pauli exclusion effects

Impact of interaction probabilities on cascade dynamics

Abstract

We propose a novel approach to intranuclear cascades which takes as input quantum MonteCarlo nuclear configurations and uses a semi-classical, impact-parameter based algorithm to modelthe propagation of protons and neutrons in the nuclear medium. We successfully compare oursimulations to available proton-carbon scattering data and nuclear-transparency measurements. Byanalyzing the dependence of the simulated observables upon the ingredients entering our intranuclearcascade algorithm, we provide a quantitative understanding of their impact. Particular emphasisis devoted to the role played by nuclear correlations, the Pauli exclusion principle, and interactionprobability distributions.