Micromass' 5400 Static Vacuum Mass Spectrometer

Description

NG-5400 is a large radius, 27 cm - extended geometry, low volume static vacuum instrument with a high sensitivity source.

Our instrument allows to analyze Ar and the heavier Noble gases and also He. The 5400He with an axial collector resolution of >600 allows the ³He⁺ peak to be easily separated from the interference peaks of HD⁺ and H₃⁺. It is therefore suitable for the analysis of He and all the Noble gases. The instruments are of all metal construction with the internal surfaces electro-polished to minimize degassing. Baking is up to 350C to ensure the lowest backgrounds at mass 36 (Interferences - ¹²C₃⁺ and ¹H³⁵Cl). The 5400 has a Faraday collector as standard and can also optionally have an ion counting electron multiplier or analogue Daly detector.

Resistance furnace

The furnace is of a double vacuum design with a tantalum crucible and liner. The heating element is a graphite cylinder through which a high current is passed. A micro-processor controller allows programmed step heating of samples. Temperature is monitored and controlled by a thermocouple positioned in a cavity in the base of the crucible. The furnace can operate at temperatures up to 2000C.


Area of application

Isotopic analyses of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and its ratios in natural gases, waters, oils, microinclusions and crystal lattice minerals and rocks (³He/⁴He, ²²Ne/²⁰Ne, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁶Ar/³⁸Ar).