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

质谱法的最新技术进步使利用岩石中浓度极低的同位素示踪剂成为可能，以便确定源自地球地幔的样品的年龄和最终来源。这些样品通常以包裹体的形式出现在熔岩流中，这些熔岩流是从深部部分融化的，或者是在金伯利岩管道中，这些管道以爆炸的方式将物质从深部带上来。本项目将组装一个质谱仪系统，该系统将在样品源中结合二次电离（离子枪）和激光共振电离的特点。该光谱仪预计能够准确地分析困难的示踪系统，例如在仅含10皮克总锇的样品中质量为187/186的锇同位素比率。

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.