Contact

Prof. Dr. Anton Wallner

Head Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and Isotope Research
Head
anton.wallnerAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 3274

Francesca Quinto (KIT):

Radionuclide transport in crystalline host rock: insights from the in-situ experiments at the Grimsel Test Site (CH)
20.03.2024

Garba et al.:

East-to-west human dispersal into Europe 1.4 million years ago
Nature

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and Isotope Research

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and Isotope Research is a new Department with a research focus on studying our world by means of its isotopic signatures. We primarily use Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) for the detection of naturally or anthropogenically produced long-lived radionuclides. We offer our instruments to national and international users through a merit-access proposal submission system.

The Department operates the DREAMS facility – AMS based on a 6-MV tandem accelerator, which provides state-of-the-art capabilities for a number of AMS isotopes. We operate a secondary-ion mass spectrometer (SIMS, Cameca IMS 7fauto) which can be used as a standalone instrument or in combination with the DREAMS setup. SIMS is used for stable isotope measurements. Also a second dedicated AMS facility, HAMSTER, is presently being set up. HAMSTER is based on a 1-MV tandem accelerator featuring a new ion cooler with laser-based isobar separation as well as enhanced actinide measurement capabilities. This instrument will be used both in fundamental physics and in accelerator applications ranging from the environment and resources to astrophysics.

AMS has a strong scientific impact through its interdisciplinary character. Many different research areas are touched, among them atmospheric science, climatology, environmental science, oceanography, glaciology, geological applications, nuclear forensics, ice core research, astrophysics, cosmic-rays, meteorites or nuclear physics.

 

Our Research and Development