Acquisition of an Automated Laser-Mass Spectrometer System for Single-Crystal 40Ar/39Ar Dating Research in EarthSciences

该合同将为地球科学研究中用于氩40/39定年的激光聚变源质谱仪系统提供一半的采购费用。该仪器将在人类起源研究所伯克利地质年代学中心操作和维护。人类起源研究所承诺提供所需的其余资金。单晶激光聚变质谱仪将是美国地球科学界可用的第二台此类仪器。该系统的能力大大提高了地质和人类学样本的精确度和日期准确度。

This award will provide one-half the cost of acquiring a laser fusion source mass spectrometer system for argon 40/39 dating in earth sciences research. The instrument will be operated and maintained in the Berkeley Geochronology Center of the Institute of Human Origins. The Institute of Human Origins is committed to providing the remaining funds required. The single-crystal laser fusion mass spectrometer will be the second such instrument available to the earth science community in the U.S. The capabilities of this system constitute a dramatic improvement in the precision and accuracy of dates for geological and anthropological samples.