title: Recent improvements in the SHIELD-HIT code.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The SHIELD-HIT Monte Carlo particle transport code has previously been used to study a wide range of problems for heavy-ion treatment and has been benchmarked extensively against other Monte Carlo codes and experimental data. Here, an improved version of SHIELD-HIT is developed concentrating on three objectives, namely: Enhanced functionality, improved efficiency, and a modification of employed physical models. METHODOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS: SHIELD-HIT (currently at version '10A') is now equipped with an independent detector geometry, ripple filter implementations, and it is capable of using accelerator control files as a basis for the primaries. Furthermore, the code has been parallelized and efficiency is improved. The physical description of inelastic ion collisions has been modified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The simulation of an experimental depth-dose distribution including a ripple filter reproduces experimental measurements with high accuracy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SHIELD-HIT is now faster, more user-friendly and accurate, and has an enhanced functionality with some features being currently unique to SHIELD-HIT. The possibility of data file exchange with existing treatment planning software for heavy-ion therapy allows for benchmarking under treatment conditions as well as extending the capabilities of treatment planning software.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Aarhus C, Denmark. dch05@phys.au.dk
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lühr
authors.forename: Rochus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Nikolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sobolevsky
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bassler
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D063193:Heavy Ion Radiotherapy; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013997:Time Factors