New neutron detector based on Micromegas technology for ADS projects

A new neutron detector based on Micromegas technology has been developed for the measurement of the simulated neutron spectrum in the ADS project. After the presentation of simulated neutron spectra obtained in the interaction of 140 MeV protons with the spallation target inside the TRIGA core, a full description of the new detector configuration is given. The advantage of this detector compared to conventional neutron flux detectors and the results obtained with the first prototype at the CELINA 14 MeV neutron source facility at CEA-Cadarache are presented. The future developments of operational Piccolo-Micromegas for fast neutron reactors are also described

Characterization of Microbulk Micromegas detectors through digital image processing

International audienceMicrobulk Micromegas (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) detectors are gaseous parallel plate detectors for the tracking of charged particles, used mainly in rare-event searches thanks to their intrinsic high radiopurity. The core of such detectors (mesh, pillars, and readout) can be produced through standard photolithography techniques starting from a single foil of copper-coated kapton. In particular, the quality of the mesh resulting from this process plays a crucial role in particle detection, and also in the energy resolution. The aim of this paper is to provide for the first time a method that allows to probe the quality of the mesh through image processing techniques. This method has been applied to nine detectors

A large size MICROMEGAS detector for the COMPASS experiment at CERN

We have developed and built 12 planes of large-size (40*40 cm/sup 2/) MICROMEGAS detectors. These detectors were installed at CERN and successfully operated during the first year of the COMPASS data taking. All important detector parameters: space and time resolutions, discharge probabilities, noise figure and experimental efficiencies were found to agree with the design values. (6 refs)

A Micromegas detector for the CAST experiment

A Micromegas detector has been mounted on the Cern Axion Solar Telescope experiment at CERN. Performance results of the detector, based on the fast period of data taken in November 2002 and in May 2003, are presented. Preliminary results on efficiencies, background rejection and axion sensitivity are shown. A novel pixel Micromegas detector is being developed to be coupled to a focussing X-ray telescope

The gaseous microstrip detector Micromegas for the COMPASS experiment at CERN

The measurements foreseen in the COMPASS experiment at CERN, require high resolution tracking detectors, with low radiation length and high rate capability. For this purpose we have developed and optimized a gaseous microstrip detector 'Micromegas'. Twelve planes with 1024 strips each, assembled in 3 stations of 4 views XYUV, have been operated with success in the summer of 2002 in the COMPASS environment. We describe here the performances and results obtained. (3 refs)

The MICROMEGAS detector as a high flux and a high resolution tracker for the COMPASS experiment at CERN

We propose to use MICROMEGAS, a new gaseous detector, in the tracking system of the COMPASS experiment. COMPASS will make use of the high energy (200 GeV) and high intensity (10 sup 8 s sup - sup 1) muon beam at CERN. MICROMEGAS chambers are good candidates for the tracking of leptons and hadrons in areas of approx 0.2 m sup 2 , with a high resolution (< 100 mu m) and a low radiation length. Prototypes of MICROMEGAS were manufactured and tested at Saclay with a source of low energy electrons ( sup 9 sup 0 Sr). The flux capabilities and the detection efficiency were studied using various gas mixtures