The OpenGATE ecosystem for Monte Carlo simulation in medical physics

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Computational Biology
• Radiological Sciences

Background:

• Geant4 is a foundational toolkit for Monte Carlo simulations.
• Medical physics research requires advanced simulation tools.
• Open-source software facilitates collaborative development and wider adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the GATE simulation toolkit.
• To detail the architecture, development processes, and collaborative management of GATE.
• To highlight the impact and applications of GATE in medical physics and cancer research.

Main Methods:

• Review of GATE's core modules: geometry, physics, and scorers.
• Description of key concepts: Volume, Actors, and Digitizer.
• Analysis of source code repositories and Continuous Integration processes.
• Examination of the OpenGATE collaboration's management strategies for nearly two decades.

Main Results:

• GATE is built upon Geant4, offering robust simulation capabilities.
• Automated processes ensure efficient code management and testing.
• The OpenGATE collaboration successfully manages a large, distributed developer community.
• GATE has demonstrated significant impact across various medical physics applications.

Conclusions:

• GATE is a mature, versatile, and impactful open-source toolkit for medical physics.
• Its collaborative development model fosters innovation and sustained progress.
• Future developments promise to further enhance its utility in research and clinical settings.