Monte Carlo Study of Electromagnetic Calorimeter Performance for Proton Form Factor Measurements at JLab

Jefferson Lab's continuous electron beam, capable of luminosities approaching 10$^{39}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, has recently been upgraded to a maximum energy of 12 GeV, allowing the proton electromagnetic form factor ratio $G_E^p/G_M^p$ to be measured at momentum transfer $Q^2$ of up to 12 GeV$^2$ via the polarization transfer method. The measurement will use the Super BigBite Spectrometer (SBS), a new magnetic spectrometer capable of operating at forward scattering angles under high luminosity conditions, to detect and measure the polarization of elastically scattered protons. The measurement of $G_E^p/G_M^p$ also requires detection of the elastically scattered electron in coincidence using a lead-glass electromagnetic calorimeter (ECal). ECal, the subject of this talk, is based on the ``BigCal'' detector used in a predecessor experiment in Hall C, re-configured to match the acceptance of SBS for elastically scattered protons. This talk will present an overview of ECal, its role in the measurement of GEp at large $Q^2$, and the technical challenges involved in its operation in the high-radiation environment of Hall A, followed by the results of of detailed GEANT4-based Monte Carlo simulations characterizing its expected performance under experimental conditions.