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Published on: January 20, 2022
Beryllium-10 mass spectrometry with a cyclotron.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 13, 1978
Summary
Researchers used a cyclotron as a mass spectrometer to measure beryllium-10/beryllium-9 ratios. This technique can date geological samples and reveal past geophysical and astrophysical events influencing beryllium-10 production.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Geochemistry
- Cosmochemistry
Background:
- Beryllium-10 (half-life: 1.5 x 10^6 years) is a cosmogenic isotope.
- Understanding beryllium-10 distribution provides insights into geophysical and astrophysical processes.
- Accurate measurement of low beryllium-10/beryllium-9 ratios is crucial for these studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the capability of a cyclotron as a mass spectrometer for precise beryllium isotope ratio measurements.
- To establish a method for determining cosmogenic beryllium-10 profiles in environmental samples.
- To explore the application of these measurements for dating geological archives and studying past environmental changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the Grenoble cyclotron as a high-sensitivity mass spectrometer.
- Measuring beryllium-10 to beryllium-9 ratios in standardized beryllium oxide samples.
- Achieving detection limits for ratios as low as 10^-10.
Main Results:
- Successfully measured beryllium-10/beryllium-9 ratios of 10^-8, 10^-9, and 10^-10.
- Validated the use of cyclotron-based mass spectrometry for low-ratio measurements.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of applying this technique to geophysical samples.
Conclusions:
- Cyclotron-based mass spectrometry offers a powerful tool for precise beryllium isotope analysis.
- This method enables the study of cosmogenic beryllium-10 in various geological reservoirs.
- Applications include dating sea sediments and polar ice, and reconstructing past geophysical and astrophysical phenomena.
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