PREDICTING THE PRODUCTION RATES OF COSMOGENIC NUCLIDES

Abstract The determination and some uses of production rates of cosmogenic nuclides are reviewed. Emphasis is on work done since 1993 for long-lived cosmogenic radionuclides in extraterrestrial matter. Several Monte Carlo computer codes are being used to numerically simulate the interactions and transport of cosmic-ray particles. Thin- and thick-target irradiations have been done with protons to determine reaction cross sections and to experimentally simulate cosmic-ray bombardments. Cross sections for some neutron-induced reactions are being measured or inferred from thick-target irradiations. Some other works involving cosmogenic-nuclide production rates are discussed.