26Al measurement with a cyclotron

G.M. Raisbeck (1) , F. Yiou (1) , C. Stephan (2)

1 CSNSM - Centre de Spectrométrie Nucléaire et de Spectrométrie de Masse
2 IPNO - Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay

We have used the accelerator facility ALICE to count directly small quantities (∼ 5 × 109 atoms) of the isotope 26Al (half-life = 7.3 x 105 years). We discuss how measurement of this nuclide in marine sediments, in conjunction with similar measurements of 10 Be (half-life = 1.5 × 106 years), can be used as an absolute dating technique. The method used here to avoid interference from the isobar 26Mg is applicable to a number of other isobars of interesting long lived nuclides, thus expanding the potential application of the accelerator technique.

Mots clés: beta decay; geochronology; geophysical techniques; nuclei with mass number 20 to 38; radioactive dating; radioactive decay periods; sediments; sup 26 Al; marine sediments; absolute dating technique; isobars; long lived nuclides; accelerator technique

Domaines: Articles anciens; Chimie-Physique [physics.chem-ph]

G.M. Raisbeck, F. Yiou, C. Stephan. 26Al measurement with a cyclotron. Journal de Physique Lettres, 1979, 40 (12), pp.241-244. ⟨10.1051/jphyslet:019790040012024100⟩. ⟨jpa-00231616⟩