Article | REF: J6636 V1

Noble gases analysis by static mass spectrometry Theory and instrumentation

Authors: Laurent ZIMMERMANN, David BEKAERT

Publication date: December 10, 2020

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ABSTRACT

This article presents noble gas measurements by static mass spectrometry. À detailed description of the source settings (permanent magnets, voltage into the Nier source, trap current, total gas pressure) is presented in order to optimize the sensitivity of such mass spectrometers. The motion of ions into the magnetic field and their ultimate detection are discussed. All technical points have been developed from datasets previously obtained on state-of-the-art mass spectrometers. 

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AUTHORS

  • Laurent ZIMMERMANN: Design engineer - CNRS - Center de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, Vandœuvre lès Nancy, France

  • David BEKAERT: Post-doctoral fellow - Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States

 INTRODUCTION

Since the 1950s, the geochemistry of noble gases has developed considerably thanks to advances in mass spectrometry. Today, they are considered by the geosciences community as powerful tracers, thanks in particular to their chemical inertia with respect to the environment in which they are found. Their concentrations in certain minerals, for example, currently make it possible to quantify the exhumation and erosion rates of our landforms using thermochronology methods, or to provide dating tools (K/Ar, Ar/Ar, U-Th-Sm/He methods, cosmogenic isotopes 3 He, 21 Ne and 38 Ar) essential to archaeology, volcanology, paleoclimatology, cosmochemistry, etc. Additional constraints on the origin and evolution of noble gases can also be provided using their isotopic signatures (e.g. 3 He/ 4 He; 20 Ne/ 22 Ne, 21 Ne/ 22 Ne; 40 Ar/ 36 Ar, 38 Ar/ 36 Ar...). These make it possible, for example, to highlight the presence of isotopes of cosmogenic origin ( 3 He, 21 Ne, 38 Ar, 78 - 83 Kr, 124 - 128 Xe), radiogenic ( 4 He, 40 Ar, 129 Xe), nucleogenic ( 21 Ne) or fissiogenic (e.g. 131 - 136 Xe). The use of isotope ratios makes it possible to trace the origin of volcanic gas sources (e.g. crust, upper or lower mantle) emanating from the Earth's surface, or to highlight mass-dependent fractionation processes during physical processes such as diffusion or condensation/evaporation.

However, all these applications require the rare gases to be extracted under ultra-high vacuum in a chamber. This chamber is connected to a mass spectrometer via a second chamber called the purification line. The extraction method (grinding, ablation, fusion) used to extract...

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KEYWORDS

Nier source   |   Faraday cup   |   mass spectrometer   |   compact discrete dynode CDD


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Noble gas analysis by static mass spectrometry