PIXE Simulation With Geant4

Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) is an important physical effect that is not yet adequately modelled in Geant4. This paper provides a critical analysis of the problem domain associated with PIXE simulation; it evaluates the conceptual approach, design and implementations of PIXE modelling so far available in Geant4, and describes a set of software developments to improve PIXE simulation with Geant4. The capabilities of the developed software prototype are illustrated and applied to a study of the passive shielding of the X-ray detectors of the German eROSITA telescope on the upcoming Russian Spectrum-X-Gamma space mission.