Micropattern detectors promise a big future

As well as being important in particle physics, multiwire detectors have been applied in other fields: X-rays for medical imaging, ultraviolet and single-photon detection, neutron and crystal diffraction studies and so on. Now their major limitation of modest rate capability has been overcome through the introduction of micropattern devices. A brief review of particle detectors is presented followed by the use of micropattern detectors in particle physics. A discussion on digital radiography, X-ray diffraction, X- ray astronomy and fusion diagnostics is also given. (0 refs).