Acquisition of Triple-Focussing Mass Spectrometer with RIMS and SIMS Capabilities

质谱分析技术的最新进展使得使用岩石中浓度很低的同位素示踪剂成为可能，以确定起源于地幔的样品的年龄和最终来源。这些样品通常以熔岩流中的包裹体的形式到达地表，这些熔岩流是从内部深处部分熔化的，或者是金伯利岩管道中的包裹体，这些金伯利岩管道从很深的地方爆炸性地带来了物质。本项目将组装一个质谱仪系统，该系统将联合收割机的二次电离（离子枪）与样品源中的激光共振电离的特征相结合。预计该光谱仪能够准确分析困难的示踪剂系统，例如在仅含有10皮克总锇的样品中质量为187/186的锇同位素比。

Recent technological advances in mass spectrometry make possible the use of isotopic tracers, present in rocks in very low concentrations, in order to determine the ages and the ultimate source of samples which originate in the mantle of the earth. These samples usually reach the surface as inclusions in lava flows which have been fractionally melted from the deep interior or in kimberlite pipes which have explosively brought material up from great depth. This project will assemble a mass spectrometer system that will combine the features of secondary ionization (ion gun) with laser resonance ionization in the sample source. The spectrometer is expected to be capable of accurately analyzing difficult tracer systems such as osmium isotope ratios of masses 187/186 in samples containing only 10 picograms of total osmium.