Upgrade of the Laser Heating System for the (U-Th)/He Laboratory at the University of Kansas

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。这笔资金将用于为堪萨斯大学地质系的（U-Th）/He热年代学实验室购置一套二极管激光加热系统。一个新的二极管激光加热系统的收购将允许（1）继续我们的NSF赞助的研究在KU目前涉及许多研究生和本科生，（2）无数的国家和国际合作的努力，提供了众多的教师，研究人员和学生获得国家的最先进的设施，和（3）新的热计时技术的发展和新的研究途径的探索。有一个巨大的需求，低温热年代学数据，以解决关键问题的时间和速度的广泛的地质过程，从构造和景观演变的能源相关的研究。除了我们巨大的合作和服务工作量外，我们实验室的新研究途径将集中在：（1）碳酸盐和含水相的激光（U-Th）/He测年;（2）高温（900-600ºC）下的扩散实验;（3）较大样品的加热和脱气（例如，（4）沉积盆地中锆石和金红石的U-Pb和（U-Th）/He双定年。拟议的收购将有助于保持目前的生产力水平，增强现有设施，并影响我们实验室的国内/国际用户群体。PI和他的同事们也有很长的记录，整合研究和教育，涉及研究生和本科生的研究和吸引少数民族和代表性不足的学生地质和地球化学。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The funds will be used acquire a diode laser heating system for the (U-Th)/He thermochronology laboratory in the Department of Geology of the University of Kansas. The acquisition of a new diode laser heating system will allow (1) continuation of our NSF-sponsored research at KU currently involving many graduate and undergraduate students, (2) countless national and international collaborative efforts, providing a multitude of faculty, researchers, and students access to a state-of-the-art facility, and (3) development of new thermochronometric techniques and exploration of new research avenues. There is a tremendous demand for low-temperature thermochronometry data to address crucial questions about the timing and rates of a wide spectrum of geological processes ranging from tectonics and landscape evolution to energy related research. In addition to our enormous collaborative and service work load, new research avenues in our laboratory as a result of this acquisition will focus among other things on: (1) laser (U-Th)/He dating of carbonate and hydrous phases; (2) diffusion experiments at higher temperatures (900-600ºC), (3) heating and degassing of larger samples (e.g., magnetite), and (4) U-Pb and (U-Th)/He double-dating of zircon and rutile from sedimentary basins. The proposed acquisition will help maintain the current productivity levels, enhance the existing facilities, and impact the national/international user community of our laboratory. The PI and his colleagues also have a long record of integrating research and education, involving graduate and undergraduates in research and attracting minority and underrepresented students to geology and geochemistry.