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NuHepMC: A standardized event record format for neutrino event generators
by S. Gardiner, J. Isaacson, L. Pickering
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Steven Gardiner |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.13211v3 (pdf) |
| Code repository: | https://github.com/NuHepMC/Spec |
| Code version: | 1.0.0 |
| Code license: | CC BY 4.0 |
| Date accepted: | July 2, 2025 |
| Date submitted: | June 21, 2025, 1:30 a.m. |
| Submitted by: | Steven Gardiner |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics Codebases |
| Ontological classification | |
|---|---|
| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approach: | Computational |
Abstract
Simulations of neutrino interactions are playing an increasingly important role in the pursuit of high-priority measurements for the field of particle physics. A significant technical barrier for efficient development of these simulations is the lack of a standard data format for representing individual neutrino scattering events. We propose and define such a universal format, named NuHepMC, as a common standard for the output of neutrino event generators. The NuHepMC format uses data structures and concepts from the HepMC3 event record library adopted by other subfields of high-energy physics. These are supplemented with an original set of conventions for generically representing neutrino interaction physics within the HepMC3 infrastructure.
Author comments upon resubmission
List of changes
- Many clarifications were added based on reviewer feedback. Some topics addressed include the degree of dependence on the HepMC3 reference library, the use of the laboratory frame for quantities stored in the event record (see new requirement E.R.9), the interpretation of our recommended numerical ranges for process IDs, and the use of our proposed "catch-all" particle code for nuclear remnants that are not fully simulated.
- The description of target scaling was simplified. A related appendix was removed since it is no longer necessary.
- Several conventions were promoted to requirements, notably two related to the flux-averaged total cross section.
- A suggestion was added that provides a format for reporting the atomic abundances in a composite target material.
- A table giving the current state of NuHepMC adoption among the most widely-used neutrino event generators was added.
- Various small fixes were made, and some attributes were renamed.
Published as SciPost Phys. Codebases 57 (2025) , SciPost Phys. Codebases 57-r1.0 (2025)