Operation of a resistive Micromegas in air

The recent developments on resistive Micromegas have enhanced the performance of this detector, and in particular have offered the possibility to reach higher amplification gains in stable operation. In this paper, the detection capabilities of a resistive Micromegas in air have been investigated. A clear Fe55 spectrum has been obtained, as well as MIP signals using cosmic rays. In the latter case, the detection efficiency reaches 42%, and could probably be further improved. The stable operation of a gaseous detector in air, i.e. without bottles, pipes or safety systems, can lead to many new applications or simplifications of existing setups.