Simulation studies of the wavelength-shifting optical module

The Wavelength-shifting Optical Module (WOM) is a concept for a photon sensor developed for the next generation of the IceCube experiment. The large sensitivity area in combination with the high photon detection efficiency, in particular in the UV region, as well as the low dark noise rates are prominent features of this sensor. A prototype of the WOM is being developed and shows promising results, but some questions are still open. We present here results from a Geant4 simulation used to study the light propagation inside the WOM and the principle reasons of light loss during photon propagation. Using this simulation, it is possible to reproduce the dominant physical effects inside the tube and correlate the simulated results with the experimental ones.