RADIOCARBON MEASUREMENTS AT THE CSIRO AMS FACILITY

The CSIRO AMS facility based on a 3 MV Tandetron at the HIAF (Heavy Ion Analytical Facility) laboratory became operational in 1990 for C-14 measurements, achieving 2-4% precision. The main drive behind the AMS development is its potential use in exploration, and although the cosmogenic isotopes are potentially useful in regolith studies, the emphasis is shifting towards the development of the capability of in-situ detection of ultra traces of heavy stable isotopes and geochronology. The C-14 capability, and other cosmogenic isotopes, will continue to be developed, to meet other CSIRO interests, e.g. in environmental problems.