Upgrading of the 40AR/39AR laser dating system at the University of Alaska Fairbanks

0237360层这笔赠款为升级阿拉斯加大学费尔班克斯大学(UAF)现有的40Ar/39Ar激光测年实验室提供部分建议支持。这次升级将显著提高信号稳定性和测年精度，最大限度地减少设备故障造成的停机时间，延长光谱仪的使用寿命，并允许对更大样本或需要精确温度控制的实验进行测年。该实验室自1990年以来一直作为40Ar/39Ar设施运行，激光系统自1994年以来一直运行。具体来说，资金将用于更换VG3600质谱仪中的电子设备，购买用于电力稳定的UPS，安装现有的电阻加热炉，升级真空组件，以及提高数据处理和归档能力。UAF将提供33%的直接设备采购。此外，阿拉斯加大学地球物理研究所支持实验室的年度运作(预算约为每年100,000美元)，其中一些支助来自外部赠款和合同。这笔资金支持一名全职实验室技术员、本科生助理、3个月的PI时间以及实验室的许多日常运营和维护费用。UAF的地质年代学实验室是一个地区性设施，对阿拉斯加和其他地方的地质和地质年代学问题感兴趣。PI与阿拉斯加地质和地球物理勘测部、美国地质调查局以及美国和外国大学的研究人员保持着密切的合作，预计升级将使这些合作得以继续和扩大。这一升级将证明有利于继续进行热计时和年代地层学研究，应用Ar同位素作为岩浆作用的指示器，以及对非常年轻的样品进行测年。***

0237360LayerThis grant provides proposal partial support for the upgrade of an existing 40Ar/39Ar laser dating laboratory at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). The upgrade will significantly improve signal stability and dating precision, minimize downtime due to equipment failure, extend the useful life of the spectrometer, and allow for dating of larger samples or those experiments requiring precise temperature control. The laboratory has been operating as a 40Ar/39Ar facility since 1990, and the laser system has been in operation since 1994. Specifically, funds will be used to replace the electronics in the VG3600 mass spectrometer, purchase a UPS for power stability, install an existing resistance-heating furnace, upgrade vacuum components, and improve data processing and archiving capabilities.UAF will provide 33% of the direct equipment purchase. In addition the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska supports the annual operation of the laboratory (budget is approximately $100,000/yr) with some of the support coming from external grants and contracts. This funding supports a full-time laboratory technician, undergraduate student assistants, 3 months of PI time and many of the day-to-day operating and maintenance expenses of the laboratory. The Geochronology Laboratory at UAF operates as a regional facility with interests in geologic and geochronologic problems in Alaska and elsewhere. The PI maintains strong collaborations with researchers at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, the United States Geological Survey and at U.S. and foreign universities, and it is expected that the upgrades will allow these collaborations to continue and expand. This upgrade will prove beneficial for continuing research in thermochronometric and chronostratigraphic studies, application of argon isotopes as indicators of magmatic processes and the dating of very young samples. ***