Low background x-ray detection with Micromegas for axion research

TREX-DM: a low-background Micromegas-based TPC for low-mass WIMP detection

If Dark Matter is made of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) with masses below [Formula: see text] GeV, the corresponding nuclear recoils in mainstream WIMP experiments are of energies too close, or below, the experimental threshold. Gas Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) can be operated with a variety of target elements, offer good tracking capabilities and, on account of the amplificat...

InGrid-based X-ray detector for low background searches

An X-ray photon detector based on the highly granular readout of an InGrid is described. This gaseous detector, based on a highly pixelized readout chip with an integrated Micromegas grid, allows for a topological analysis of each event and, thus, a distinction between a charged track and a photon conversion is possible in most cases. Because of the high granularity, an energy resolution of 5.2...

Possible low-background applications of MICROMEGAS detector technology

The MICROMEGAS detector concept, generally optimized for use in accelerator experiments, displays a peculiar combination of features that can be advantageous in several astroparticle and neutrino physics applications. Their subkeV ionization energy threshold, excellent energy and space resolution, and a simplicity of design that allows the use of radioclean materials in their construction are s...

X-Ray Background Fluctuations

Minor Ha activity, consisting of small brightenings and small, surgelike spikes, was observed to take place above an active center at the solar limb in good time-association with small fluctuations in the soft X-ray background flux, suggesting that even small dynamical events seen optically are associated with coronal heating. The ratio of Ha flux to soft X-ray flux in some of the surges was ap...

The X–ray Background: Observations