Validation of GEANT4 Monte Carlo Models with a Highly Granular Scintillator-Steel Hadron Calorimeter

TL;DR

This study validates GEANT4 Monte Carlo models by comparing simulations with data from a highly granular scintillator-steel hadron calorimeter, demonstrating the models' accuracy in reproducing shower development.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of GEANT4 physics lists against experimental data from a finely segmented calorimeter, highlighting their performance in modeling hadronic showers.

Findings

GEANT4 models accurately reproduce the longitudinal shower development.

Lateral shower profiles are well modeled by selected physics lists.

Global calorimeter response matches experimental data within uncertainties.

Abstract

Calorimeters with a high granularity are a fundamental requirement of the Particle Flow paradigm. This paper focuses on the prototype of a hadron calorimeter with analog readout, consisting of thirty-eight scintillator layers alternating with steel absorber planes. The scintillator plates are finely segmented into tiles individually read out via Silicon Photomultipliers. The presented results are based on data collected with pion beams in the energy range from 8GeV to 100GeV. The fine segmentation of the sensitive layers and the high sampling frequency allow for an excellent reconstruction of the spatial development of hadronic showers. A comparison between data and Monte Carlo simulations is presented, concerning both the longitudinal and lateral development of hadronic showers and the global response of the calorimeter. The performance of several GEANT4 physics lists with respect to these observables is evaluated.