Geant4 (for GEometry ANd Tracking) is a toolkit for “the simulation of the passage of particles through matter,” using Monte Carlo methods.
It is the successor of the GEANT series of software toolkits developed by CERN, and the first to use Object oriented programming (in C++). Geant4’s development, maintenance and user support are taken care by the international Geant4 Collaboration. Geant4 is a fairly complex system, and exploits advanced software engineering techniques and object-oriented technology to achieve transparency of the physics implementation and hence provide the possibility of validating the physics results.
The software is used by a number of research projects around the world. Its areas of application include high energy, nuclear and accelerator physics, as well as studies in medical and space science.
Key Features
- Facilities for handling geometry.
- Tracking is simulating the passage of a particle through matter. This involves considering possible interactions and decay processes.
- Detector response is recording when a particle passes through the volume of a detector, and approximating how a real detector would respond.
- Run management is recording the details of each run (a set of events).
- Visualization options including OpenGL.
- A large set of utilities is provided including a powerful set of random number generators.
- A set of physics units and constants.
- Particle management compliant with the Particle Data Group.
- Interfaces to event generators.
- Object persistency solutions.
Website: www.geant4.org
Support: Documentation
Developer: Geant4 Collaboration
License: Geant4 Software License
Geant4 is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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