Improvements in an Accelerator Based Mass Spectrometer for Measuring 10Be

Abstract

The Yale Tandem isotope analysis system has been improved. The previous work done at Yale used the existing accelerator facilities without any modifications. More recently, we have developed some specialized apparatus and techniques which allow us to measure 10Be, in natural samples, with greater sensitivity and improved reliability. For example, we have developed a new inverted cone configuration for our cesium sputter source that utilizes 1/2 mg samples of BeO. We have also developed a ?E-E telescope which employs a gas proportional ?E detector, which enhances the 10B - 10Be discrimination. We have also simplified the procedures for extraction of BeO from a sample; the new procedure requires only 2 mg of 9BeO carrier. Overall, we can detect a reservoir of 10Be containing only 108 atoms. We have also been studying the feasibility of transferring this program of 10Be measurements to a smaller accelerator. We make some specific suggestions as to how this can be done.