# Current Status and Future Developments of Micromegas Detectors for Physics and Applications
## 10 Conclusions  
Micromegas was invented with the aim to improve the performance of gaseous detectors, such as the Multi Wire Proportional Chambers, in view of the high expected rates in future particle physics experiments in the LHC era. The introduction of the narrow amplification gap was a key point to achieve fast signals with efficient ion collection and stable operation, showing excellent spatial, temporal, and energy resolution. Furthermore, the detector discharges became non-destructive due to the relatively low voltages required for the operation, while technological developments, like the resistive anodes, led to further quenching of the sparks. Further improvements in the manufacturing techniques, such as the \"bulk Micromegas\" technology, permitted the production of detectors with industrial and low-cost processes. These manufacturing techniques allowed the design of large-area detectors with high robustness and good performance. Other techniques were invoked with the aim of improving specific characteristics of the detector: The Microbulk technology allowed the construction of very radio-pure and low material budget detector structures with exceptional energy resolution for gaseous detectors (\(<\)11% FWHM at 5.9 keV) that are appropriate for rare event searches but also for neutron in-beam measurements. The coupling of the Micromegas to readout chips through the GridPix or the Piggyback techniques led to devices that combined the advantages of gaseous detectors with the granularity of silicon detectors, therefore, being ideal for high precision TPCs. The coupling of the Micromegas to a Cherenkov radiator crystal with a photocathode allowed the tracking of MIPs with a timing precision of 24 ps. The optical readout of Micromegas, using the scintillation light produced by the electron avalanches, simplified the segmentation of the detector readout pixels, offering new opportunities for physics experiments as well as industrial applications. Finally, the use of an appropriate converter can transform the Micromegas to a neutron or single UV-photon counter. Due to the versatility of the Micromegas, which allows the adaption and optimization of detectors to very different requirements and environments, these detectors have been used in a wide range of astroparticle, particle, and nuclear physics experiments. Large-area and low-mass Micromegas detectors are used in particle and nuclear physics experiments (i.e., COMPASS, CLAS12, and ATLAS) for particle tracking, with a spatial resolution that can reach \(\sim\)50 um while being operated with rates up to 200 kHz/channel. Micromegas operating as Time Projection Chambers are used in experiments to precisely reconstruct particle trajectories (i.e., T2K, MINOS, and ILC-TPC) as well as to measure neutron fluxes and study nuclear reactions (nTOF). They are also used for particle identification and background reduction in rare event searches (i.e., CAST, IAXO, and PandaX-III),achieving very low background levels: \(10^{-6}\) c/keV/cm\({}^{2}\)/s in the 1-10 keV energy range in experiments at the surface of the earth, dropping down to \(10^{-7}\) c/keV/cm\({}^{2}\)/s in dedicated underground laboratories. During recent years, Micromegas detectors have received growing interest for applications in industry, bio-medicine, and in other scientific fields, including geology and archaeology. All these developments, which show the high versatility and performance of the Micromegas detector concept, have established Micromegas as an indispensable detector solution for many different applications. More applications in various fields will benefit from new developments in the future. Several parts of the research in this overview have received external funding. We mention here explicitly the following research contracts: ANR-19-CE31-0024, ANR-20-CE31-008, ANR SPLAM: ANR- 2011-BS04-025-01....  
Not applicable.