First performance tests of VERA

AMS 14C Dating of Equipment from the Iceman and of Spruce Logs from the Prehistoric Salt Mines of Hallstatt

“…13C/12C and 14C/12C ratios were obtained by using the 3+ charge state at 2.7 MV terminal voltage. For details of the machine performance see Priller et al (1997) and Rom et al (1998).…”

“…Although AMS measurements were performed at 3 different AMS laboratories, only the data evaluation at VERA shall be discussed in detail (see also Kutschera et al (1997); Priller et al (1997); Rom et al (1998)). …”

Dating and environment using long-lived radionuclides

“…Since by now some environmental parameters are clearly affected by man (e.g. the concentration of important trace gases Be, 10 Be, 14 C, 26 Al, 32 Si, 36 Cl, 39 Cl, 41 Ca, 44 Ti, 59 Ni, 60 in the atmosphere such as O 3 , CO 2 , and CH 4 ), we are most concerned that we disturb the environment in a way Nature will not be able to cope with. The basis for a better assessment of the overall environmental situation is a clear understanding of the natural variations in the past.…”

“…Suddenly it was possible to make 14 C measurements with as little as one milligram of carbon as compared to gram amounts needed for the classical beta-counting method. In addition to 14 C many other radionuclides with even longer half-lives such as 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, 41 Ca and 129 I became available through AMS [4]. The combination of long half-lives (D10 5 years) and extremely low isotopic abundances (10 212 to 10 215 ) make these radionuclides virtually unmeasurable through beta-decay counting.…”

“…Already with the classical beta-counting method it developed into one of the most versatile tools for dating in archaeology and related fields. The added advantage of AMS is demonstrated in table I for the measurement of 14 C. The numbers for the AMS detection are taken from VERA, the new AMS facility in Vienna [9,10] shown in fig. 1.…”