Acquisition of backup components for a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer used for U-daughter geochronometry

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。资金将用于购买热电离质谱仪的替换电子设备和相关部件，该仪器已成为伯克利地质年代学中心U系列(230-234U-238U)和U-Th-Pb测年研究和培训方案的基石。我们现有的质谱仪仍然能够进行最先进的U-Pb测量，并仍然是使用较新技术(即等离子质谱仪)检查U系列测量的重要资源；然而，它越来越容易受到老化电子设备故障的影响，这些故障扰乱了实验室的运行，降低了生产率。通过该奖项获得新的电子元件将使热电离质谱计的使用寿命延长数年，提供接近新仪器的性能和生产率，但成本却只有它的一小部分。U系列和U-Pb测年可靠、准确的年龄对于对地球和地球上生命发展的广泛过程和事件的基础研究是必不可少的。这些主题包括气候变化、地震科学、人类及其文化的进化，以及过去改变生物进化进程的全球环境灾难。BGC在开发和改进测年技术方面有着悠久的历史，将这方面的知识和经验传达给其他实验室和科学家，并培训研究生和博士后研究员等职业早期科学家，从而提高国家在地球和生命科学研究方面的能力。新的奖项提供了极具成本效益的支持，使我们能够维持这些活动。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Funds will be used for the acquisition of replacement electronics and associated components for a thermal ionization mass spectrometer that has formed the cornerstone of research and training programs in U-series (230Th-234U-238U) and U-Th-Pb dating at the Berkeley Geochronology Center (BGC). Our existing mass spectrometer continues to be capable of state-of-the-art U-Pb measurements and remains an important resource for vetting U-series measurements by newer techniques (i.e., plasma mass spectrometry); however, it is increasingly subject to failures of its ageing electronics that disrupt laboratory operations and reduce productivity. The acquisition via this award of new electronic components will extend the useful life of the thermal ionization mass spectrometer for several years, providing performance and productivity approaching those of a new instrument, but at a fraction of the cost. Reliable, precise ages from U-series and U-Pb dating are essential to fundamental research on a wide spectrum of processes and events in the development of the Earth and life upon it. Such topics include climate change, earthquake science, evolution of humankind and its cultures, and past global environmental catastrophes that altered the course of biotic evolution. The BGC has a long history of developing and improving dating techniques, conveying this knowledge and experience to other labs and scientists, and training early-career scientists such as graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, thereby enhancing the national capability and capacity for research in earth and life sciences. The new award provides highly cost-effective support that will allow us to sustain these activities.