Pluto++ - A Monte Carlo simulation tool for hadronic physics

A versatile package for Monte Carlo simulations of hadronic interactions in C++ is presented, designed for compatibility with the ROOT analysis environment. Realistic models of resonance production, hadronic, and electromagnetic decays are implemented, motivated by the physics program of HADES. Empirical angular-distribution parametrizations for selected processes are utilized as well, such as resonance excitation in hadronic interactions, and nucleon-nucleon elastic scattering. The code comprises a self-contained framework for stand-alone principle simulations, including an extensive database of elementary particles and properties with support for additional user-input data, as well as utilities for the implementation of elementary detector setups and acceptance cuts. A standard interface for further on- and off-line processing of generated events with GEANT is also supplied. User-defined tasks via macros and derived classes are facilitated by the flexible design of the code, which in analysis mode may be employed for on-line fitting of experimental spectra. (orig.)