The detection of single electrons using a Micromegas gas amplification and a MediPix2 CMOS pixel readout

With a He/Isobutane 80/20 mixture (capable of achieving gas gain factors up to 20×103) and employing a drift length of 15 mm, signals from radioactive sources and cosmic radiation were measured. Single primary electrons originating from the passage of cosmic muons through the gas volume were detected with an efficiency higher than 90%.