Micromegas testbeam data analysis and VMM3a chip testing for the New Small Wheel upgrade of ATLAS

This Summer Student project at CERN revolved around the Micromegas gaseous detector for the New Small Wheel upgrade of ATLAS for the High-Luminosity LHC. During July and August, data obtained from the setup at the North Area testbeam were analysed, for muon and pion runs. The resolutions from the Micromegas precision planes as a function of the high voltage applied on the planes were obtained, and the effect of various analysis techniques on these resolutions was studied. Moreover, validation tests were carried out on the VMM3a chips that will be mounted on the frontal electronics (MMFE8) boards of the detector; while most chips showed good behaviour, some exhibited undeniably problematic activity under testing conditions.