Use of the Small Proportional Counter for Carbon 14 Measurement in 10 Milligram Carbon Samples

摘要

Ten years ago, the measurement of C-14/C-12 ratios in 10 milligram carbon samples seemed to be technically out of reach. However, two developments that make this goal possible have recently occurred: the first is an entirely new mass-spectrometric separation of C-14 and C-12 ions and their subsequent estimation by counting, while the second is simply the extension of conventional proportional counter operation (using CO sub 2 as counter gas) to very small size carbon samples. The first method is very fast, precise, and capable of treating samples of even sub-milligram size, but requires an expensive installation. The second method is slow (counting times of two months or more are necessary), can probably be made sufficiently precise to handle most problems, works down to sample sizes of 10 mg carbon, and is relatively inexpensive, especially to install in already existing radiocarbon laboratories. It is this second method and its implications that are discussed in the present paper. (ERA citation 06:012715)