Radionuclide dating and trace element analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry

Accelerator Mass Spectcrometry (AMS) is being used for both radionuclide dating and stable isotope trace element determination with limits of high sensitivity. The areas of applications of radionuclide AMS include oceanography, terrestrial studies, glaciology, hydrology, environmental studies, meteorology, archaeology, anthropology, analysis of crude oils, biomedical and materials sciences, etc. The techniques and applications of radionuclide AMS are reviewed. The applications of stable element AMS include the measurements of trace impurities in electronic and other materials. The techniques and applications of stable element AMS are discussed with particular emphasis on electronic materials such as Si, GaAs, and HgCdTe. The design of the University of North Texas stable element AMS facility built in collaboration with Texas Instruments Incorporated is discussed.Work supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grants No. DMR-8812331 and ECD-9003099, the Office of Naval Research Grants No. N00014-89-J-1309, N00014-89-J-1344, N00014-90-J-1691, and N00014-91-J-1785, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Texas Utilities Electric Inc. International Digital Modeling Corp., North Texas Research Institute, Combustion Engineering Inc., LTV Corporation, the State of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board — Texas Advanced Technology Research Program, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, and the University of North Texas Organized Research Fund.