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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

A Practical Guide on Coupling a Scanning Mobility Sizer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (SMPS-ICPMS)

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Optimizing a microwave gas ion source for continuous-flow accelerator mass spectrometry.

K F von Reden¹, M L Roberts, J R Burton

¹Geology & Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA. kvonreden@whoi.edu

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|March 3, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers optimized a microwave ion source for radiocarbon accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Modifications improved ion beam quality and system efficiency for high-quality carbon-14 analyses.

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Area of Science:

Physics
Chemistry
Earth Science

Background:

The National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) Facility utilizes a 2.45 GHz microwave ion source coupled with a magnesium charge exchange canal (C × C).
This system is crucial for radiocarbon dating and analysis of carbon-14 (¹⁴C).

Purpose of the Study:

To adapt and optimize a microwave ion source for a large acceptance radiocarbon AMS system.
To investigate methods for improving ion source output, specifically emittance and efficiency.

Main Methods:

Coupling a 2.45 GHz microwave ion source with a magnesium charge exchange canal (C × C).
Injecting CO(2) samples through a glass capillary.
Implementing modifications to the extraction triode geometry and plasma chamber based on modeling calculations.
Conducting experimental tests of these modifications.

Main Results:

Routine system parameters achieve 120-140 μA of negative carbon-12 (¹²C) current post-C × C.
This yields approximately 400 ¹⁴C counts per second for a modern sample, indicating a system efficiency of 0.2%.
Experimental tests of modifications showed potential for improved emittance and ion transport efficiency.

Conclusions:

The adapted ion source coupled with the C × C system enables high-quality AMS analyses.
Further modifications to the ion source geometry and plasma chamber are expected to enhance emittance and overall system efficiency.
Ongoing research aims to further improve the performance of radiocarbon AMS systems.