Simulation of γ cascades in complex nuclei with emphasis on assessment of uncertainties of cascade-related quantities

A new simulation of nuclear γ cascades by the Monte Carlo method is described. It makes it possible to generate artificially individual events of the γ-cascade decay of an isolated, highly excited initial level in a medium and heavy nucleus. A broad class of quantities, associated with the process of γ-cascade de-excitation, can be modelled. The main advantage of the method is the possibility of a full quantitative control over the influence of the Porter–Thomas fluctuations of partial radiation widths on uncertainties of the modelled cascade-related quantities. For assessment of these uncertainties and a control over the accuracy of the method, a special statistical formalism has been developed.