NSF - Arizona Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) Laboratory
Encyclopedia
Arizona Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory focuses on the study of cosmogenic isotopes, and in particular the study of radiocarbon, or Carbon-14
. As a laboratory, part of its aim is to function as a research center, training center, and general community resource. Its stated mission is conducting original research in cosmogenic isotopes. The AMS laboratory was established in 1981 at the University of Arizona.
This laboratory
is used primarily to provide radiocarbon measurements. Hence, coverage in research areas is multidisciplinary. Coverage of dating objects includes general interest and scientific interest. For example, dating of the dead sea scrolls
was accomplished using this method.
at this facility accelerate energies up to 3 million volts (3 MeV
). The function of these accelerators is to measure scarce, (cosmogenic) isotopes such as Aluminium-26
, Beryllium-10
, Iodine-129
and the aforementioned Carbon-14
. In other words, the accelerators are used for measuring rare isotopes that are produced within earth materials, such as rocks or soil, in Earth's atmosphere
, and in extraterrestrial objects such as meteorites. These are cosmogenic isotopes, produced from interaction with cosmic rays.
research facility. It is operated by both the Physics Department and the Geosciences Department of the University of Arizona. It is tasked with both scientific inquiry and education. Topical coverage of investigations includes archaeology, art history
, forensic science, radioactive tracer studies
, radiometric dating, the carbon cycle
, cosmic ray physics
, meteorites, geology, paleoclimate, faunal extinctions
, hydrologic balance
, frequency rate of forest fires, terrestrial magnetic field
, solar wind
, ocean sciences and instrument development.
Carbon-14
Carbon-14, 14C, or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with a nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its presence in organic materials is the basis of the radiocarbon dating method pioneered by Willard Libby and colleagues , to date archaeological, geological, and hydrogeological...
. As a laboratory, part of its aim is to function as a research center, training center, and general community resource. Its stated mission is conducting original research in cosmogenic isotopes. The AMS laboratory was established in 1981 at the University of Arizona.
This laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
is used primarily to provide radiocarbon measurements. Hence, coverage in research areas is multidisciplinary. Coverage of dating objects includes general interest and scientific interest. For example, dating of the dead sea scrolls
Dead Sea scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 texts from the Hebrew Bible and extra-biblical documents found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from which they derive their name...
was accomplished using this method.
Tandem accelerators
Two, tandem acceleratorsAccelerator mass spectrometry
Accelerator mass spectrometry differs from other forms of mass spectrometry in that it accelerates ions to extraordinarily high kinetic energies before mass analysis. The special strength of AMS among the mass spectrometric methods is its power to separate a rare isotope from an abundant...
at this facility accelerate energies up to 3 million volts (3 MeV
MEV
MeV and meV are multiples and submultiples of the electron volt unit referring to 1,000,000 eV and 0.001 eV, respectively.Mev or MEV may refer to:In entertainment:* Musica Elettronica Viva, an Italian musical group...
). The function of these accelerators is to measure scarce, (cosmogenic) isotopes such as Aluminium-26
Aluminium-26
Aluminium-26, 26Al, is a radioactive isotope of the chemical element aluminium, decaying by either of the modes beta-plus or electron capture, both resulting in the stable nuclide magnesium-26. The half-life of 26Al is 7.17 years...
, Beryllium-10
Beryllium-10
Beryllium-10 is a radioactive isotope of beryllium. It is formed mainly by cosmic ray spallation. Be-10 has a half-life of 1.36 × 106 years, and decays by beta decay to stable Boron-10 with a maximum energy of 556.2 keV....
, Iodine-129
Iodine-129
Iodine-129 is long-lived radioisotope of iodine which occurs naturally, but also is of special interest in the monitoring and effects of man-made nuclear fission decay products, where it serves as both tracer and potential radiological contaminant....
and the aforementioned Carbon-14
Carbon-14
Carbon-14, 14C, or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with a nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its presence in organic materials is the basis of the radiocarbon dating method pioneered by Willard Libby and colleagues , to date archaeological, geological, and hydrogeological...
. In other words, the accelerators are used for measuring rare isotopes that are produced within earth materials, such as rocks or soil, in Earth's atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention , and reducing temperature extremes between day and night...
, and in extraterrestrial objects such as meteorites. These are cosmogenic isotopes, produced from interaction with cosmic rays.
Scope
Established in 1981, this facility is a National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
research facility. It is operated by both the Physics Department and the Geosciences Department of the University of Arizona. It is tasked with both scientific inquiry and education. Topical coverage of investigations includes archaeology, art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
, forensic science, radioactive tracer studies
Radioactive tracer
A radioactive tracer, also called a radioactive label, is a substance containing a radioisotope that is used to measure the speed of chemical processes and to track the movement of a substance through a natural system such as a cell or tissue...
, radiometric dating, the carbon cycle
Carbon cycle
The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth...
, cosmic ray physics
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
, meteorites, geology, paleoclimate, faunal extinctions
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
, hydrologic balance
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, frequency rate of forest fires, terrestrial magnetic field
Magnetic field
A magnetic field is a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials. The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude ; as such it is a vector field.Technically, a magnetic field is a pseudo vector;...
, solar wind
Solar wind
The solar wind is a stream of charged particles ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. It mostly consists of electrons and protons with energies usually between 1.5 and 10 keV. The stream of particles varies in temperature and speed over time...
, ocean sciences and instrument development.