Optimising the design of gas microstrip detectors for soft X-ray detection

This report describes development work in which systematic changes in the electrode pattern of a gas microstrip detector are explored in the search for higher avalanche gains and enhanced stability. It is found that the width of the cathode structure is the main determinant of the detector stability. With the correct cathode width, gas gains of >50 000 are comfortably attainable with low detector noise so that X-rays can potentially be detected down to the limit of a single X-ray produced photoelectron.