Hello everyone,
In my application, I simulate the propagation of neutrons through an ICRU sphere with the purpose of measuring the energy deposition -> absorbed dose -> equivalent dose. I use Geant4 version 10.6 and a PhysicsConstructor objects configuration taken from example Hadronic 06 with thermal scattering On.
I am having doubts regarding the energy deposition of the neutrons and their secondaries, specifically with thermal neutrons (around 0.025 eV). I can tell by looking at the tracking verbosity that when some thermal neutrons hit the ICRU sphere, let’s say for example one of 0.024 eV, it gets captured and a gamma photon (2.2 MeV) and a deuteron (1.31 keV) are produced. As you can see part of this in the following picture:
The gamma photon doesn’t deposit any energy itself, but leaves a track of electrons which deposit up to ca. 2 MeV, while the deuteron deposits all of its energy into the ICRU sphere. Ending up with ca. 2.1 MeV energy deposited coming from a 0.024 eV neutron. I just want to be sure if this is actually correct, as I thought the energy should be conserved.
I am still a beginner in both Geant4 and physics, so any help clearing this out would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much in advance!