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Description
Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) are devices often used for charge particle tracking, as exemplified at the LHC experiments. These devices were introduced to improve the position resolution, the capability to cope with high particle flux, and the long term stability compared to the Multi-Wire Proportional Chambers. In recent years, MPGDs found applications beyond high energy physics mainly due to their imaging capabilities and the advantageous size over price ratio. Some examples that do not exhaust the list of applications are:
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The developments to obtain a radiation-hard detector based on Gaseous Electron Multipliers (GEMs) for imaging and dosimetry during gamma-ray treatments.
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GEMs have been used for X-ray fluorescence of artworks in order to unveil underlying paintings over large surfaces.
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A portable and battery-driven muon telescope based on Micro-Mesh Gaseous Structures (Micromegas) is used for cosmic muon tomography, presently scanning the Egyptian Pyramids.
The goal of all MPGDs is to amplify the otherwise small amount of ionisation charge produced in the gas by the interacting particles. Typically, this charge is read out electronically with an amplification and digitisation chain dedicated to each channel. An alternative is to exploit the copious scintillation of certain gases. The first ideas of taking pictures of scintillating gases go back to the beginning of the '80, and recently its potential was re-discovered. Modern MPGDs coupled to modern cameras are versatile and intuitive tools to deliver fast and good quality images. The robustness and the simplicity of this readout technique are key features which may simplify the spread of MPGDs beyond high energy physics environment. Applications range from low-energy X-ray radiography and fluoroscopy, position- and energy-resolved X-ray detection, X-ray crystallography over large areas, online beam monitor in hadron therapy treatments, and possibly several others.
