Progress in detector and new physics
Dr. Ioanis Giomataris (CEA-Saclay)

Micropattern gaseous detectors (MPGD), especially Micromegas and GEM are widely used by many experiments and future projects. The high radiation resistance and excellent spatial and time resolution make them an invaluable tool to confront future detector challenges at the next generation of colliders. Originally developed for the high-energy physics, MPGD applications have expanded to astrophysics, neutrino physics, dark matter search, neutron detection and medical imaging.
I will present a fast review on principle and basic performance of Micromegas detector. I will point out new developments that are currently under way and especially novel industrial ways of fabricating the detector in a single process. Large area spectrometer for the ATLAS forward muon tracking system. High accuracy, TPC read-out detectors, with positive ion suppression capability permitting to resolve high particle density events. Its use for low-energy, low-background rare event detection will also be discussed.

The new detector based on a spherical geometry will be presented. The detector consists of a large spherical gas volume with a central electrode forming a radial electric field. A small spherical sensor located at the center is acting as a proportional amplification structure. Sub-keV energy threshold with good energy resolution is achieved and calibration source developed.
The very low energy threshold of such detector and versatility of the target (Ar, Ne, He, H) has led to investigations of its potential performance for dark matter searches, in particular low mass WIMP´s and Axion like particles. WIMP sensitivity could be pushed down to 100 MeV. Preliminary results obtained with a low radioactivity prototype operated in Underground lab of Modane and typical expected sensitivities will be discussed.