AMS Laboratory

The Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) Laboratory pioneers advances in ultra-sensitive isotope measurement and instrumentation. The group plays a leading role in the development of next-generation AMS technologies, supporting research in radiocarbon and cosmogenic nuclides while also contributing to fundamental nuclear physics through the refinement of nuclear reaction cross-sections. Through continuous technical innovation and precision science, the AMS Laboratory underpins transformative research across the Earth, environmental, archaeological, and physical sciences.

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is ultrasensitive isotope ratio mass spectrometry of small, prepared samples. By accelerating sample atoms the ions can be characterised by combined conventional mass spectrometry and high-energy collisions within and after the accelerator. Isotopes typically measured include a handful of rare long-lived radionuclides, ¹⁰Be, ¹⁴C, ²⁶Al, and ³⁶Cl. The AMS Laboratory specialises in environmental science measurement of these natural chronometers and tracers and undertakes research in pursuit of this. The AMS Laboratory performs about 8,000 analyses a year with collaborators including the SUERC Radiocarbon Laboratory, the NEIF Radiocarbon Facility (Environment), SUERC-Cosmo (includes NEIF-CN), and laboratories further afield.