Micromegas Particle Detector

Improvements in high energy particle accelerator detectors are needed to realize their potential for new discoveries in basic physics. The micromegas detector could achieve the best performance and lowest cost for the large structures required. Reducing critical dimensions and optimizing material choices is expected to increase gain, count rate and stability. Agiltron will use new lithography approaches to increase the mesh wire count from 500 (per inch) to 1500, and new materials (titanium, tantalum) to reduce breakdown. The combination is expected to increase stability at high pressure and allow an increased electric field with concomitant improvement in gain, count rate and spatial resolution. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits:Improved experimental equipment reduces DOE costs directly through apparatus procurement and indirectly as improved performance gets desired results faster. The detector to be developed may have significant medical applications permitting digital x-ray images with energy resolution