VIKAR

This site acts as a repository for the code VIKAR - Virtual Instrumentation for Kinematics and Reactions. VIKAR is a code under continuous update and expansion, and has been developed to support the research program of ORRUBA and GODDESS.

The philosophy behind VIKAR is that a user should be able to configure and run a Monte Carlo simulation of an experiment without looking at a single line of code, and without needing knowledge of detailed formatting of input files associated with the simulation code. Correspondingly, setting up a simulation is achieved by answering a list of questions prompting the user at runtime for the required information, much like the approach adopted by the program front associated with the distorted-waves code twofnr. The only exception to this is the definition of detectors, which is achieved through small input files. A number of example files are included to describe some real-world setups, along with a guide that elucidates the layout of these files, so that they can be modified by the user to describe their own detector setups. In order to make the detector definitions simple and intuitive, detectors are defined according to a number of pre-defined detector geometries. This makes building a setup quick and straightforward, at the expense of flexibility.

VIKAR is designed primarily to simulate two-body nuclear reactions, in normal or inverse kinematics, from which charged particles are detected. Charged and neutral beam particles can be modelled. A selection of commonly-used detector geometries are included, with real-world examples, making simulations of different experimental setups fast and easy. Effects modelled in the simulation include beam spot size, beam energy spread, energy loss and straggling in both targets and detectors. Single and multi-layer foils and gas-jet targets are modelled. Two-stage silicon detector telescopes (resistive and non-resistive readout) are currently included; additional detection materials will be added in the future.

The current version of VIKAR is: VIKAR 4.42

Earlier versions are posted solely for archival purposes; it is highly recommended that only the current version be employed.