New approach to intranuclear cascades with quantum Monte Carlo configurations

We propose a novel semiclassical approach to intranuclear cascades, which takes as input quantum Monte Carlo nuclear configurations and uses a semiclassical, impact-parameter-based algorithm to model the propagation of protons and neutrons in the nuclear medium. We successfully compare our simulations to available proton-carbon scattering data and nuclear-transparency measurements. By analyzing the dependence of the simulated observables upon the ingredients entering our intranuclear cascade algorithm, we provide a quantitative understanding of their impact. Particular emphasis is devoted to the role played by nuclear correlations, the Pauli exclusion principle, and interaction probability distributions.

Automated summary

This study introduces a novel semiclassical approach to modeling intranuclear cascades, successfully comparing simulations to experimental data and providing a quantitative understanding of the impact of various factors in the algorithm, with a particular focus on nuclear correlations, the Pauli exclusion principle, and interaction probability distributions.