PARSIFAL: a toolkit for triple-GEM parametrized simulation

Abstract

PARSIFAL (PARametrized SImulation) is a tool which reproduces a triple-GEM detector full response to the passage of a charged particle, taking into account most of the involved physical effects. A triple-GEM is a gaseous detector that amplifies the primary ionization, generated by the incoming radiation interacting with the gas, through three amplification stages, providing position measurement with a resolution around 100 micron, energy resolution better than 20% and time resolution below 10 ns. Despite well known and robust software such as GARFIELD++ can simulate the electron propagation in gas and the interaction with the electric field, considering the avalanche formation and signal creation, they are CPU-time consuming. The necessity to reduce the processing time while maintaining the precision of a full simulation is the main driver of this work. PARSIFAL takes into account the main processes involved in the signal formation, starting from ionization, spatial and temporal diffusion, the effect of the magnetic field, if any, and GEM amplification properties. The induction of the signal and the electronics response are also present. PARSIFAL parameters are evaluated by means of GARFIELD++ simulations; the results of the simulation are compared to experimental data from testbeam and tuning factors are applied to improve the matching.Comment: submitted to JINS