Issue 5, 2019

Improved TIMS data reliability and precision with new ion source design

Abstract

The ion source design of the Triton and Triton Plus Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) has been improved to reduce the frequency and intensity of high voltage electric sparking. Sparking can be caused by voltage flashover between the ion source components, resulting in rapid instability of the lens and acceleration voltages. This in turn leads to deflection of the ion beams in the analyzer and subsequently measurement biases, particularly on minor isotope detectors. Two prototype ion sources were engineered and tested to increase the condenser-to-ground flashover voltage without changing the geometry of any surfaces that would potentially adversely influence the ion beam transmission and focusing. The ion source enhancement facilitates better accuracy and precision of uranium total evaporation measurements. An external component test and analysis of natural uranium certified reference material 112-A has been used to validate the performance of three modified ion sources installed in two TIMS. The new design is commercially available.

Graphical abstract: Improved TIMS data reliability and precision with new ion source design

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 jan 2019
Accepted
08 mrt 2019
First published
14 mrt 2019

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2019,34, 986-997

Improved TIMS data reliability and precision with new ion source design

H. Siegmund, J. Hiess, M. Sturm, A. Koepf, C. L'Herault and S. Boulyga, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2019, 34, 986 DOI: 10.1039/C9JA00032A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements