Atom counting with accelerator mass spectrometry
W. Kutschera, A. J. T. Jull, M. Paul, A. Wallner
Abstract
Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is a mass-spectrometric method using entire accelerator systems to measure ultralow traces of long-lived radioisotopes. AMS spectrometers produce an ion beam from a sample of interest and separate ions according to their magnetic, electric, and atomic characteristics. It is thus possible to identify both the mass number and the atomic number of a very rare radioisotope, and count it atom by atom. The review describes the 45-year history since the discovery of AMS, detailed technical aspects, and a wide range of research fields.
Topics & Concepts
Accelerator mass spectrometryPhysicsMass spectrometryRange (aeronautics)Nuclear physicsAtomic massAtom (system on chip)IonAtomic physicsHybrid mass spectrometerSelected reaction monitoringMaterials scienceTandem mass spectrometryComposite materialComputer scienceEmbedded systemQuantum mechanicsRadioactive contamination and transferIsotope Analysis in EcologyNuclear Physics and Applications