Accelerator mass spectrometry

• Published in: Mass spectrometry reviews Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 398 - 427
• Main Authors: Hellborg, Ragnar, Skog, Göran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.09.2008; Wiley
• Subjects: accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS); Analytical chemistry; Archaeology - methods; Carbon Radioisotopes - analysis; Chemistry; Cosmic Radiation; cosmogenic isotopes; Earth and Related Environmental Sciences; Equipment Design; Exact sciences and technology; Fysik; Geologi; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Geology; Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap; Isotopes - analysis; isotopic composition; Mass Spectrometry - instrumentation; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Nuclear Medicine - methods; Oceanography - methods; Particle Accelerators - instrumentation; Physical Sciences; radioisotopes; Radioisotopes - analysis; Spectrometric and optical methods; Static Electricity; Subatomic Physics; Subatomär fysik; tandem accelerator; Tandem Mass Spectrometry - instrumentation; Tandem Mass Spectrometry - methods; cosmogenic isotopes; Geology; Carbon Isotopes; Instrumentation; Accelerator mass spectrometry; accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS); Isotopic composition; Review; Oceanography; Radioisotope; radioisotopes; Archaeology; tandem accelerator; Sample preparation; Environment; Application; Carbon 14; Isotopes; Medical application

In this overview the technique of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and its use are described. AMS is a highly sensitive method of counting atoms. It is used to detect very low concentrations of natural isotopic abundances (typically in the range between 10−12 and 10−16) of both radionuclides and...