PIXE Simulation With Geant4

Abstract

Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) is an important physical effect that is not yet adequately modelled in Geant4. This paper provides a critical analysis of the problem domain associated with PIXE simulation; it evaluates the conceptual approach, design and implementations of PIXE modelling so far available in Geant4, and describes a set of software developments to improve PIXE simulation with Geant4. The capabilities of the developed software prototype are illustrated and applied to a study of the passive shielding of the X-ray detectors of the German eROSITA telescope on the upcoming Russian <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Spectrum-X-Gamma</i> space mission.