Mass Spektrometer Alphachron

University of Salzburg

Salzburg | Website

Open for Collaboration

Short Description

The "Alphachron" device essentially consists of an infrared laser (wavelength 914 nm), a sample chamber, a line and valve system for gas handling including 3He and 4He calibration tanks and a quadrupole mass spectrometer (Pfeiffer PrismaPro) for analysis Gas atoms or molecules (1-100 amu) in ultra-high vacuum. This is maintained by a diaphragm, a turbomolecular, an ion and two getter pumps.

Contact Person

Dr. Bjarne Friedrichs

Research Services

Generation of low-temperature thermochronometric data on single crystals for in situ and detrital samples.

Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure

With the "Alphachron" device, mineral separates are degassed in order to determine their helium content. For this purpose, individual grains (diameter <<1 mm) are packed in platinum tubes and heated with a laser. The helium stored in the crystal is released by the heating process and quantified with a mass spectrometer. The data generated can be used to determine a temperature-dependent age of rocks, which is important for our understanding of mountain-forming processes, fault activity or fluid flow in the Earth.

Allocation to research infrastructure

Thermochronometry