Simulating Deuteron Breakup and Neutron Production in D+D Reactions

Physics Processes, Models and Cross Sections
1

_Geant4 Version:_11.3.0
_Operating System:_Ubuntu 22.04.5

Hello everyone,

I’m currently working on a simulation involving a gaseous deuterium (D₂) target bombarded with deuterons, with the goal of modeling a neutron source. Specifically, I’m interested in quantifying the relative yields of two deuteron-deuteron reaction channels:

  1. d + d → n + ³He
  2. d + d → d + n + p (deuteron breakup)

My main issue is that so far, I do observe the n + ³He reaction occurring in the simulation, but I do not see any evidence of the breakup reaction channel (d + d → d + n + p) being triggered.

I’m currently using the QGSP_BIC_AllHP physics list. I would like to know:

  • Does Geant4 support simulation of this specific breakup channel using any available hadronic or ion models?
  • Would using a different physics list (or customizing one) help include this reaction?
  • Is there any recommended approach to simulate such three-body breakup processes (possibly through a custom model or external generator) ?

Any insights or suggestions on how to accurately include this reaction channel would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance for your help!

2

It is a few years old but this thread might have some of the answers you are looking for.

3

Thank you very much ! That thread was indeed helpful - I had already come across it and found some useful insights there especially concerning the D(d,n)3He reaction. I’ve actually reopened the discussion in that thread to ask for more details concerning the breakup reaction. Hopefully, someone with experience on this topic can share further input.

Thanks again for pointing me back to it !