For next-generation neutrinoless double beta decay
experiments, extremely low backgrounds are necessary. An
understanding of in-situ cosmogenic backgrounds is critical to the
design effort. In-situ cosmogenic backgrounds impose a depth
requirement and especially impact the choice of host
laboratory. Often, simulations are used to understand background
effects, and these simulations can have large uncertainties. One way
to characterize the systematic uncertainties is to compare unalike
simulation programs. In this paper, a suite of neutron simulations
with identical geometries and starting parameters have been
performed with Geant4 and MCNP, using geometries relevant to the
LEGEND-1000 experiment. This study is an important step in gauging
the uncertainties of simulations-based estimates. To reduce project
risks associated with simulation uncertainties, a novel alternative
shield of methane-doped liquid argon is considered in this paper for
LEGEND-1000, which could achieve large background reduction without
requiring significant modification to the baseline design.