Monte Carlo simulation of the LENA detector system

Many nuclear astrophysics experiments use the singles energy spectrum to measure nuclear cross-sections. It has been shown in previous publications that the use of a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector and a NaI(Tl) annulus in coincidence can lower the background, allowing the measurement of smaller cross-sections. In our previous work, our simulation was only capable of determining both full-energy peak relative efficiencies. Here, we present work which extends our simulation so that we can predict absolute efficiencies, and both coincidence gate efficiencies. We first show that the full-energy peak and the total energy singles efficiency of our HPGe detector simulation agrees well with calibration data. We then present the full-energy peak and total energy efficiency for the NaI(Tl) annulus. Results are presented for our coincidence efficiencies, using three examples. These examples are a comparison to the decay of the 151 keV resonance in the 18O(p, γ)19F reaction, a 22Na point-like calibration source, and 26Al nuclei distributed in a meteorite fragment. In each case, we present a comparison of data to the simulation and show that, within our uncertainties, we can accurately simulate our measured intensities. -- Highlights: •We create a simulation of our HPGe detector and NaI annulus. •We compare our model to various calibration sources. •We compare energy gating using the simulation. •The simulation predict efficiencies as observed in the data