Validation of spallation models : an approach

To understand and describe the proton induced spallation reactions, a large number of computer codes have been proposed. Various quantitative tests are used in literature to judge the agreement between model calculations and experimental data. The judgement is based on the magnitude of the deviation of the tests from their expected values in the case of the perfect agreement. However, the expected values of the tests and their standard deviations are usually not well known. Thus the conclusions may be ambiguous. It is proposed to calculate the expected values and standard deviations of the tests by Monte Carlo method and to use the tests in their standardized form.