Experimental benchmarks of the Monte Carlo code PENELOPE

The physical algorithms implemented in the latest release of the general-purpose Monte Carlo code PENELOPE for the simulation of coupled electron-photon transport are briefly described. We discuss the mixed (class II) scheme used to transport intermediate- and high-energy electrons and positrons and, in particular, the approximations adopted to account for the energy dependence of the interaction cross-sections. The reliability of the simulation code, i.e. of the adopted interaction models and tracking algorithms, is analyzed by means of a comprehensive comparison. of simulation results with experimental data available from the literature. The present analysis demonstrates that PENELOPE yields a consistent description of electron transport processes in the energy range from a few keV up to about 1 GeV. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.