RADIOCARBON IN MEXICO: FROM PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS TO AMS

Radiocarbon ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Corina Solís ◽  
Efraín Chávez ◽  
Arcadio Huerta ◽  
María Esther Ortiz ◽  
Alberto Alcántara ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Augusto Moreno is credited with establishing the first radiocarbon (14C) laboratory in Mexico in the 1950s, however, 14C measurement with the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) technique was not achieved in our country until 2003. Douglas Donahue from the University of Arizona, a pioneer in using AMS for 14C dating, participated in that experiment; then, the idea of establishing a 14C AMS laboratory evolved into a feasible project. This was finally reached in 2013, thanks to the technological developments in AMS and sample preparation with automated equipment, and the backing and support of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the National Council for Science and Technology. The Mexican AMS Laboratory, LEMA, with a compact 1 MV system from High Voltage Engineering Europa, and its sample preparation laboratories with IonPlus automated graphitization equipment, is now a reality.

Radiocarbon ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 649-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Gottdang ◽  
Dirk J. W. Mous ◽  
Johannes Van Der Plicht

Since May 1994, a new-generation accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) has been fully operational at the Centre for Isotope Research in Groningen, The Netherlands. The fully automated and high-throughput accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) system, manufactured by High Voltage Engineering Europa (HVEE) is dedicated to radiocarbon analysis. The HVEE 4130 14C AMS is able to analyze up to 3000 samples per year. The system is characterized by simultaneous transport of all three isotopes (12C, 13C, 14C) and 14C analysis with a precision below 0.5 pMC and a daily stability below 0.5 pMC. We present here a system description together with stability and performance measurements.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Suter ◽  
A M Müller ◽  
V Alfimov ◽  
M Christl ◽  
T Schulze-König ◽  
...  

In the last decade, small and compact accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) systems became available operating at terminal voltages of 1 MV and below. This new category of instruments has become competitive for radiocarbon detection to larger tandem accelerators and many of these instruments are successfully used for 14C dating or biomedical applications. The AMS group at ETH Zurich has demonstrated that small instruments can be built, which allow measurements also of other radionuclides such as 10Be, 26Al, 129I, and the actinides. 41Ca measurements can be performed with sufficient sensitivity for biomedical applications. A summary of recent developments made at the 500kV Pelletron in Zurich is given and its performance is compared with that of a commercial compact instrument from the company High Voltage Engineering Europe (HVEE) in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, operating at 1MV at CNA in Seville, Spain, as well as with that of larger AMS facilities. It turns out that the ion optics, stripper design, and the detection system are critical for the performance.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 1247-1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald E Aardsma

Modern radiocarbon dates were procured for the Cave of the Treasure, Israel reed mat at the University of Arizona accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory in late 1999 and early 2000. Three samples from various locations on the mat were dated. One of these samples was dated twice, and another was dated three times, yielding a total of six new radiocarbon dates on the mat. The new 14C dates overturn expectations of a late Chalcolithic, roughly 3500 BC, date for the origin of the mat. It is suggested that the mat may not have been of common use but may rather have been a religious heirloom with a history stretching back into the early Chalcolithic.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1541-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy D J Knowles ◽  
Paul S Monaghan ◽  
Richard P Evershed

ABSTRACTThe Bristol Radiocarbon Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (BRAMS) Facility was established at the University of Bristol after the commissioning of our dedicated sample preparation laboratories and the installation and acceptance of the BrisMICADAS AMS in 2016. Routine measurements commenced in mid-2016, once validation was completed for each sample type. Herein, we give an overview of the standard pretreatment methods currently employed in the Facility and the results of radiocarbon (14C) determinations on a wide range of standards, blank materials, and intercomparison samples which have been measured during our extensive pretreatment method validation program and during our routine 14C analyses.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2A) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Gottdang ◽  
M Klein ◽  
D J W Mous

In recent years, High Voltage Engineering Europa (HVEE) has demonstrated its capability of developing and installing turnkey accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) equipment for the analysis of, among others, 14C and 129I. Five 3MV systems using sequential and/or simultaneous injection are operational in the field today, and they have shown excellent long-term stability providing high-precision analyses on a routine basis. Another three AMS systems are in production. It is projected that for the time being, AMS will continue to broaden its field of applications; a saturation of the market of AMS facilities is not expected in the near future.To meet the specific demands of the biomedical research community, we have developed an extreme compact 14C AMS system comprising a hybrid ion source capable of handling both graphite as well as CO2 samples. The source is optimized for easy maintenance, accommodates up to 200 samples, and can be implemented in any other AMS system.More recently, HVEE has initiated the development of an AMS system capable of detecting, among others, 36Cl and 41Ca. The design will include a HVEE 5MV Tandetron™. The accelerator is currently under construction as part of an ion beam analysis system for the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain).


2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Kieser ◽  
X.-L. Zhao ◽  
I. D. Clark ◽  
T. Kotzer ◽  
A. E. Litherland ◽  
...  

Radiocarbon ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella Passariello ◽  
Fabio Marzaioli ◽  
Carmine Lubritto ◽  
Mauro Rubino ◽  
Antonio D'Onofrio ◽  
...  

A system with several lines for the preparation of graphite targets for radiocarbon analysis has been built at the new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) facility in Caserta, Italy. Special attention has been paid in the design to the reduction of background contamination during sample preparation. Here, we describe the main characteristics of these preparation lines. Results of tests performed to measure 14C background levels and isotope fractionation in several blank samples with the Caserta AMS system are presented and discussed.


Author(s):  
Seiji Hosoya ◽  
Kimikazu Sasa ◽  
Tsutomu Takahashi ◽  
Tetsuya Matsunaka ◽  
Masumi Matsumura ◽  
...  

Radiocarbon ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise C Gomes ◽  
Oscar Vega

We describe a new methodology for separating organic temper from archaeological ceramics from Brazilian Amazonia. These experimental procedures were designed to directly date ceramic samples by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). An evaluation of the total carbon indicates the samples’ potential for dating.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document