MICADAS

Continuous optimization of our two MIni CArbon DAting Systems (MICADAS) [1] at the Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (ETHZ), combined with improved data evaluation strategies [2] allow to perform accurate and precise analysis of samples that contain only a few micrograms of carbon.
A recent innovation involves coupling a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer with an elemental analyzer to an AMS (EA-IRMS-AMS). Traditionally, 13C and 14C are measured separately in order to yield valuable and complementary biogeochemical information. The new instrumental configuration allows concurrent online 13C and 14C analyses [3]. From the stable isotope signature (i.e. 13C/12C ratio) information about different sources can be gained, while 14C adds temporal information. These instrumental capabilities allow to establish rich datasets at unprecedented scales.

The novel technique of coupling laser ablation (LA) to AMS for on-line 14C analysis of carbonate records bears a great potential for paleoclimate research. 14C-data sets of carbonate records, such as stalagmites and corals, can be established within very short analysis times, while reaching high spatial resolution [4]. This opens the field to unforseeable new applications.
 

Contact

Negar Haghipour

Caroline Welte

Melina Wertnik

Sources

[1] Synal H.-A., Stocker M, Suter M. (2007). MICADAS: a new compact radiocarbon AMS system. NIM B 259 (1), 7–13. external pageDOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2007.01.138call_made

[2] Hanke, U.M., Wacker, L., Haghipour, N., Schmidt, M.W.I., Eglinton, T.I. McIntyre, C.P. (2017), Comprehensive radiocarbon analysis of benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs) derived from pyrogenic carbon in environmental samples, Radiocarbon, 59 (4), 1103-16. external pageDOI: 10.1017/RDC.2017.44call_made

[3] McIntyre C.P., Wacker L., Haghipour N., Blattmann T.M., Fahrni S., Usman M., Eglinton T.I., Synal H.-A. (2017). Online ¹³C and ¹⁴C gas measurements by EA-IRMS-AMS at ETH Zürich. Radiocarbon, 59, 839-903. external pageDOI:10.1017/RDC.2016.68call_made

[4] Welte, C., Wacker, L., Hattendorf, B., Christl, M., Fohlmeister, J., Breitenbach, S.F.M., Robinson, L.F., Andrews, A.H., Freiwald, A., Farmer, J.R., Yeman, C., Synal, H.-A., Günther, D. (2016). Laser Ablation - Accelerator Mass Spectrometry: An Approach for Rapid Radiocarbon Analyses of Carbonate Archives at High Spatial Resolution. Anal. Chem. 88 (17), 8570-6. external pageDOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b01659call_made