87756 20250722154011.0 doi 10.1088/1742-6596/650/1/012008 sideral 115987 ART-2015-115987 eng Garza, J.G. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-0800-1588 Low Background Micromegas in CAST 2015 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Solar axions could be converted into x-rays inside the strong magnetic field of an axion helioscope, triggering the detection of this elusive particle. Low background x-ray detectors are an essential component for the sensitivity of these searches. We report on the latest developments of the Micromegas detectors for the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST), including technological pathfinder activities for the future International Axion Observatory (IAXO). The use of low background techniques and the application of discrimination algorithms based on the high granularity of the readout have led to background levels below 10-6 counts/keV/cm2/s, more than a factor 100 lower than the first generation of Micromegas detectors. The best levels achieved at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) are as low as 10-7 counts/keV/cm2/s, showing good prospects for the application of this technology in IAXO. The current background model, based on underground and surface measurements, is presented, as well as the strategies to further reduce the background level. Finally, we will describe the R&D paths to achieve sub-keV energy thresholds, which could broaden the physics case of axion helioscopes. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EUR/EIC-CERN-2011-0006 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/240054/EU/Novel Developments in Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) for Rare Event Searches in Underground Astroparticle EXperiments/TREX info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO-FEDER/FPA2008-03456 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO-FEDER/FPA2011-24058 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ 0.252 2015 Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) 2015 Q3 info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceObject info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Aune, S. Aznar, F. Calvet, D. Castel, J.F. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-3532-7540 Christensen, F.E. Dafni, T. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-8921-910X Davenport, M. Decker, T. Ferrer-Ribas, E. Galán, J. (orcid)0000-0001-7529-9834 García, J.A. Giomataris, I. Hill, R.M. Iguaz, F.J. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-6327-9369 García Irastorza, I. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-1163-1687 AJakobsen, A.C. Jourde, D. Mirallas, H. (orcid)0000-0002-9951-8680 Ortega, I. Papaevangelou, T. Pivovaroff, M.J. Ruz, J. (orcid)0000-0002-3253-7027 Tomás, A. Vafeiadis, T. Vogel, J.K. 2004 X Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Física Teórica Proy. investigación HCA 2004 390 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Física Teórica Área Física Atóm.Molec.y Nucl. 650 (2015), 12008 [6 pp.] J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1742-6588 1388671 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/87756/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 366339 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/87756/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:87756 articulos driver 2025-07-22-15:35:40 ARTICLE