Nd YAG Laser for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

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This proposal is for purchase of a 213 nm Nd YAG*laser sampling system for trace element microanalysis of solids in the UVic ICP-MS*laboratory. The desired instrument is a New Wave Research NWR213 system*supplied by Ligero Techical Services. The instrument is to be funded through a combination of NSERC*funds we seek herein, with $40K of our own contributions from lab user fee*savings, and departmental and external support funds. The new device is to replace an aging 12 year old instrument, that has undergone many repairs and is becoming difficult to source parts for. The new NWR213 system has many modern*features we require to develop high resolution, 2-dimensional trace element*mapping in solids (minerals, hair, shells, otoliths, artefacts) that will inform*spatial and temporal changes in the environmental conditions under which they*form. The NWR213 device has beam-shaping capability that allows for square-shaped*laser ablations, in either straight or sinuous paths, allowing compositional imaging of trace elements in minerals or biological*materials orthogonal to growth bands with no beam overlap. In addition, the 2-volume*sample cell chamber of the NWR213 system has a smaller gas sampling volume, giving a 20-fold faster gas washout time and thus much higher sensitivity. A customizable*sample holder area for flexible sample options. These features make 2-D trace*element mapping practical, accurate, and precise. Higher sensitivity is also necessaryto advance*our capabilities and potential in geochronology and geochemistry. Purchasing 13 nm Nd YAG laser sampling system is timely, allowing for higher valued trade-in of our older instrument, and prudent,*by avoiding investment of our user fee funds toward frequent and time-consuming*repairs of our aging instrumentation. The investment of our own*contributions that total to ~30% of the purchase, shows our commitment to more modern*state-of-the-art analytical technology that will further advance the training of the next*generation researchers in geology, environmental science, geochronology, oceanography*and biology.