Tuning of the GEANT4 FRITIOF (FTF) Model Using NA61/SHINE Experimental Data

The NA61/SHINE collaboration measured inclusive cross sections of \pi^+ and \pi^- meson production in the interactions of 31 GeV/c protons with carbon nuclei at forward emission angles (0 - 420 mrad). The collaboration also presented predictions of Monte Carlo models - FLUKA, VENUS and UrQMD, in comparison with the data. A careful analysis shows that deviations of the FLUKA and VENUS predictions from the data have different tendencies. The worst description of the data was observed for the UrQMD model results. All the models assume the creation of quark-gluon strings in the interactions, but it is complicated to analyze the models in order to find the source of the deviations. Thus, the quark-gluon string model - FRITIOF (FTF) - was implemented in the GEANT4 toolkit and is used to understand the deviations mentioned above. It was found that the most important factor influencing the FTF calculations is the sampling of quark-gluon string masses. The other factors/parameters are not essential for a description of the data. Also, a good description of the data is achieved by the FTF model.