Improvements and Applications of AMS Radiocarbon Measurement at Peking University

Abstract

AMS radiocarbon measurements were started at Peking University in 1992 with a modified HICONEX 834 ion source. Some archaeological samples were measured at a sensitivity of 10^-14 with ca. 1.7% precision for modern samples. We have made many improvements in our first two years of operation: a high-intensity Cs sputtering ion source was installed; the graphite sample preparation technique was investigated; and the system stability has been improved. The blank sample background is currently ca. 0.006 MC and a precision within 1% can be reached for modern samples. Geological, archaeological, environmental and biomedical samples can be measured routinely. We present some typical applications.