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Photon-counting detector (PCD)-based computed tomography (CT) imaging improves diagnostic accuracy and lowers radiation exposure, requiring realistic and versatile simulation tools for algorithm development. Existing model-based PCD simulators, however, have limitations in accurately modeling PCD outputs, such as missing pixel-to-pixel variations and unidentified mismatches between ideal models and actual measurements. The study aimed to develop an advanced PCD-based CT simulator that overcomes these limitations in existing simulators. Our simulator is based on the PCD output model that was built upon the cascaded model. To develop an advanced PCD simulator, we modified and generalized the previously established condition-specific functions, creating a count-rate-dependent energy mapping operator and a pixel-to-pixel variation generator. These components were then incorporated into …