Neutron and Beta Imaging with Micromegas Detectors with Optical Readout

Recent developments have shown that coupling a Micromegas gaseous detector on a glass substrate with a transparent anode and a CMOS camera enables the optical readout of Micromegas detectors with a good spatial resolution, demonstrating that the glass Micromegas detector is well-suited for imaging. This feasibility test has been effectuated with low-energy X-ray photons also permitting energy resolved imaging. This test opens the way to different applications. Here we will focus on two applications. Namely, neutron imaging for non-destructive examination of highly gamma-ray emitting objects, such as irradiated nuclear fuel or radioactive waste. And secondly, we are developing a beta imager for the cell tagging in the field of anticancerous drug studies. Both applications require to design the detectors in view of the specific constraints of reactor dismantling and medical applications: spatial resolution and strong gamma suppression for neutron imaging and precise rate and energy spectrum measurements for the beta. A dedicated system consisting of a glass Micromegas detector and an ultrasensitive camera has been designed and assembled. Here we present the first results from the characterization of the detectors, as well as the first acquired images.