GEANT4, MCNPX, and SHIELD code comparison concerning relativistic heavy ion interaction with matter

The NICA complex design aims to provide collider experiments with 4.5 × 4.5 GeV/n ions up to gold. To ensure proper radiation protection, the precise description of all radiation sources is needed—first, the double differential neutron yields from targets in the middle atomic mass region. For lack of reliable experimental data at such energies, a comparative evaluation of radiation transport codes with different physical models of nucleus—nucleus interaction has been performed. GEANT4, MCNPX, and SHIELD simulations for NICA design purposes are presented.