MicroPattern gas detectors with pixel read-out

MicroPattern Gas Detectors with pixel read-out are position-sensitive proportional counters obtained by coupling a gas amplifying stage to a pixel charge collection plane. Advanced PCB techniques, offering typical feature size of the order of a few microns, are used to construct the detectors, which show excellent spatial resolution and fast charge collection. In this paper it is shown how the design of the read-out system can maximize the intrinsic performance of these devices for two practical implementations, in the field of X-ray Astronomy and Plasma Imaging.