Ultra-sensitive measurements of36Cl and236U at the Australian National University

L. K. Fifield; S. G. Tims; J. O. Stone; D. C. Argento; M. De Cesare

doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2012.04.028

Ultra-sensitive measurements of³⁶Cl and²³⁶U at the Australian National University

L. K. Fifield^*, S. G. Tims, J. O. Stone, D. C. Argento, M. De Cesare

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Some potential applications of the isotopes³⁶Cl and²³⁶U require higher sensitivity than is normally required or achieved. For³⁶Cl, one such application is the measurement of the³⁶Cl/Cl ratio of seawater. We show that, with appropriate precautions to reduce the effect of ion-source memory, it is possible to reach blank levels below 10^-16in the³⁶Cl/Cl ratio. Measurements of a series of seawater and sea salt samples yield a blank-corrected³⁶Cl/Cl ratio of present-day sea water of 0.71 ± 0.08 × 10^-15. For²³⁶U, one potential application is as a prospecting tool, where sensitivities in the²³⁶U/²³⁸U ratio at the 10^-13level are desirable. We demonstrate that this sensitivity can be achieved for 24 MeV uranium ions with time-of-flight detection over a 6.0 m flight path.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	126-131
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Volume	294
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2012.04.028
Publication status	Published - 2013

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title = "Ultra-sensitive measurements of36Cl and236U at the Australian National University",

abstract = "Some potential applications of the isotopes36Cl and236U require higher sensitivity than is normally required or achieved. For36Cl, one such application is the measurement of the36Cl/Cl ratio of seawater. We show that, with appropriate precautions to reduce the effect of ion-source memory, it is possible to reach blank levels below 10-16in the36Cl/Cl ratio. Measurements of a series of seawater and sea salt samples yield a blank-corrected36Cl/Cl ratio of present-day sea water of 0.71 ± 0.08 × 10-15. For236U, one potential application is as a prospecting tool, where sensitivities in the236U/238U ratio at the 10-13level are desirable. We demonstrate that this sensitivity can be achieved for 24 MeV uranium ions with time-of-flight detection over a 6.0 m flight path.",

keywords = "Accelerator mass spectrometry, Chlorine-36, Uranium-236",

author = "Fifield, {L. K.} and Tims, {S. G.} and Stone, {J. O.} and Argento, {D. C.} and {De Cesare}, M.",

year = "2013",

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T1 - Ultra-sensitive measurements of36Cl and236U at the Australian National University

AU - Fifield, L. K.

AU - Tims, S. G.

AU - Stone, J. O.

AU - Argento, D. C.

AU - De Cesare, M.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

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AB - Some potential applications of the isotopes36Cl and236U require higher sensitivity than is normally required or achieved. For36Cl, one such application is the measurement of the36Cl/Cl ratio of seawater. We show that, with appropriate precautions to reduce the effect of ion-source memory, it is possible to reach blank levels below 10-16in the36Cl/Cl ratio. Measurements of a series of seawater and sea salt samples yield a blank-corrected36Cl/Cl ratio of present-day sea water of 0.71 ± 0.08 × 10-15. For236U, one potential application is as a prospecting tool, where sensitivities in the236U/238U ratio at the 10-13level are desirable. We demonstrate that this sensitivity can be achieved for 24 MeV uranium ions with time-of-flight detection over a 6.0 m flight path.

KW - Accelerator mass spectrometry

KW - Chlorine-36

KW - Uranium-236

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JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

ER -

Ultra-sensitive measurements of³⁶Cl and²³⁶U at the Australian National University

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