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(8)s(-1)) muon beam at CERN. MICROMEGAS chambers are good candidates for the tracking of leptons and hadrons in areas of approximate to 0.2 m(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 (Sr-90). The flux capabilities and the detection efficiency were studied using various gas mixtures.