Method for Determining the 14c Content of a Gas Mixture and System Suitable Therefor

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

The invention describes a method and system for determining the amount of radioactive carbon-14 (14C) in a gas mixture using a pulsed infrared laser. The process involves converting a sample into a gas, irradiating it with short, pulsed laser light that passes multiple times through a measuring chamber, and detecting the infrared absorption signals to precisely determine the 14C content. This technique enables accurate, non-destructive analysis with improved sensitivity and speed compared to traditional methods.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Radiocarbon dating of archaeological, geological, and paleontological samples to determine their age.
• Forensic investigations, such as estimating the time of death by analyzing biological samples (e.g., human eye lenses).
• Authentication and dating of art, historical artifacts, and antiques to distinguish originals from forgeries.
• Environmental monitoring of atmospheric 14C levels, including tracking the effects of industrialization or nuclear tests.
• Biological and medical research that requires precise age determination of organic materials.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• High sensitivity and precision in detecting very low concentrations of 14C isotopes.
• Faster and less labor-intensive compared to traditional methods like accelerator mass spectrometry or radioactive decay measurement.
• Lower equipment size and cost than conventional systems (such as mass spectrometers).
• Enables analysis with small sample quantities, which is important for rare or precious items.
• Non-destructive or minimally destructive for valuable samples.
• Capability for repeated measurements and improved signal-to-noise ratio due to multiple laser passes through the sample.
• No need for cryogenic cooling (measuring can occur at typical laboratory temperatures).

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the 14C content of a gas mixture in which 14C isotopes are present as constituents of a molecule, wherein the gas mixture is provided in a measuring chamber (2) and infrared laser radiation (L) is supplied to the measuring chamber (2). The laser radiation (L) provided for irradiating the gas mixture is deflected such that it passes through the measuring chamber (2) a plurality of times while interacting with the gas mixture and the laser radiation (L) is supplied to a detector in order to calculate the absorption of laser radiation by the gas mixture and to determine the 14C content of the gas mixture therefrom. A pulsed laser (1) is used for generating the laser radiation (L) and generates laser pulses having a pulse duration of less than 5 µs, in particular less than 500 ns, which are supplied to the measuring chamber (2).