The relevance of ion optics for the development of small AMS facilities

Abstract

An ion optics program is presented, which addresses some of the specific problems of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Ion beams having a phase space with angular distributions based on small angle scattering and with energy distributions caused by the straggling in foils or stripper gas can be included in transmission calculations. As an example, a new design for 10Be measurements with the 600 kV AMS system at ETH Zurich including a silicon nitride degrader foil is discussed, which will allow competitive measurements of this cosmogenic radionuclide at low energies. This system should also improve background suppression for other AMS nuclides. © 2009 Elsevier B.V.