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Instruments and Facilities
Environmental Tracer Group

He Mass Spec | Noble Gas Mass Spec | Ar Mass Spec | SF6 GC | Gas Extraction Lab | He MS Report

 

We operate two dedicated mass spectrometric systems for helium isotope analysis and tritium measurement by the He-3 ingrowth method, respectively (both systems contain VG 5400 mass spectrometers as central units). The systems are fully automated. Precision for determination of the He-3/He-4 ratio typically is ±0.2 percent. However, it can approach ±1 percent if the samples contain high He-4 concentrations or extreme He-3/He-4 ratios. Tritium can be measured with a precision of about ±1 to 2 percent (1 sigma) and a detection limit of 0.01 TU or better. One of the mass spectrometers has a special detector block for ultra-low He-3 background. The separation of He isotope and tritium measurements on dedicated machines allows us to improve the turnaround time for mass spectrometric tritium measurements. The throughput of the systems is high (several thousand samples per year).

October 10, 2003