First Tests of MICROMEGAS and GEM-Like Detectors Made of a Resistive Mesh

We describe here various detector designs: GEM-type, MICROMEGAS-type, as well as cascaded detectors made of a resistive mesh manufactured from a resistive Kapton foil, (20 μm thick, surface resistivity a few MΩ/cm
²
) by a laser drilling technique. As in any other micro-pattern detector, the maximum achievable gas gain of these detectors is restricted by the Raether limit; however, the resistive mesh makes them and the front end electronics fully spark protected. This approach may function as an alternative/or complementary component of the ongoing efforts in developing MICROMEGAS and GEMs with resistive anode readout plates and can be especially beneficial in micro-pattern detectors combined with a micro-pixel-type integrated front end electronics.