The low-energy limit of the intranuclear cascade model

The intranuclear cascade model is generally considered to be valid when the incident particle has a sufficiently small de Broglie wavelength to interact with individual nucleons. On this basis, a lower limit of 250 MeV is usually quoted for the incident energy in nucleon-nucleus reactions. Here we investigate to what extent this condition can be relaxed, just by comparing the predictions of the Liege intranuclear cascade model with available data at lower incident energy, down to 40 MeV. It is found that this model gives surprisingly good results at energies well below the above-mentioned limit. Results are also compared with the predictions of other models commonly used in this energy range. A tentative interpretation of these results is proposed. (orig.)