Sample preparation for AMS astrophysics projects – size does (not) matter

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dc.contributor.authorMerchel, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorChild, DPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFaestermann, Ten_AU
dc.contributor.authorFröhlich, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorGosler, Ren_AU
dc.contributor.authorHotchkis, MACen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKoll, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorKorschinek, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPavetich, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWallner, Aen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-22T23:32:49Zen_AU
dc.date.available2023-05-22T23:32:49Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2019-09-09en_AU
dc.date.statistics2023-04-12en_AU
dc.descriptionThe abstract acknowledge there were a lot more AMS colleagues....en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe determination of long-lived radionuclides by means of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is usually outstandingly successful when an interdisciplinary team comes together. The “heart” of AMS research is of course an accelerator equipped with sophisticated ion sources, analytical tools and detectors run by experienced and ambitious physicists. Setting-up and further developing AMS systems is one of the most interesting and challenging topics. The reputation to be reached here is the greatest uniqueness of analysis possible, lowest detection levels, and/or most reliable data world-wide. For sure, another primary pillar of AMS research is based on the questions addressed within fundamental and applied research. “How have supernovae explosions influenced Earth, our solar system and beyond?” or “How does the Earth’s surface and environment respond to earthquakes, climate change and anthropogenic influences?” are just two examples of high-quality studies. However, somehow in-between there are groups of hidden figures like people developing software for data analysis or performing the required chemical sample preparation for AMS. These often unacknowledged individuals do crucial work for the overall outcome of the studies. Chemists can spend weeks and months trying (and failing) on sample preparation before they find a “safe way” and start the actual work on the most valuable sample material, repeat all over again the same “recipe” for hundreds of samples, or train non-chemists the secrets of their successful recipes. Nevertheless, interdisciplinary AMS work can also be very exciting for a chemist: touching (and destroying) samples from outer space, the deep ocean or (currently) frozen places like Antarctica is quite thrilling. But at the end of the day, the whole AMS chemist’s work can be described as “reducing the sample matrix, other impurities and especially isobars to a level the AMS machine can handle while enriching the radionuclide of interest”. Starting materials for applications such as astrophysical research can be “orders of magnitude” different: a neutron-irradiated sample of 1 g tungsten powder, over 40 g of clay-rich material from the Cretaceous–Tertiary (K-T) boundary, 100 g of ultra-pure sodium iodide, or 500 kg of snow from Antarctica can cause totally different and sometimes unexpected problems in the chemistry lab. In general, smaller samples are not always easier to handle for example if they are chemically rather resistant or reactive. The cream of the crop of failure and success in a few AMS chemistry labs will be presented.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationMercel, S., Child, D., Faestermann, T., Fröhlich, M., Gosler, R., Hotchkis, M., Koll, D., Korschinek, G., Pavetich, S., & Wallner, A (2019). Sample preparation for AMS astrophysics projects – size does (not) matter. Paper presented to the Heavy Ion Accelerator Symposium on Fundamental and Applied Science - 2019, 9-13 September 2019, Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, (pp. 51). Retrieved from: http://hias.anu.edu.au/2019/_files/2019_HIAS_BookOfAbstracts.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate13 September 2019en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameHeavy Ion Accelerator Symposium on Fundamental and Applied Science - 2019en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceCanberra, Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate9 September 2019en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination51en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://hias.anu.edu.au/2019/_files/2019_HIAS_BookOfAbstracts.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15040en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian National Universityen_AU
dc.subjectChemistryen_AU
dc.subjectIon sourcesen_AU
dc.subjectLaboratoriesen_AU
dc.subjectMass spectroscopyen_AU
dc.subjectRadioisotopesen_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectSample preparationen_AU
dc.titleSample preparation for AMS astrophysics projects – size does (not) matteren_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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