Helium Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

• Subject Area: Geology and Palaeontology
• Term: from 2011 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193053278

„(U-Th)/He thermochronology is sensitive to the thermal and geodynamic evolution of the shallow crust. During the last years, the (U-Th)/He method became increasingly important for studying near-surface processes such as relief formation, young fault activities, late-stage exhumation periods, and coupling between climate change and exhumational response. The two main foci of our research are methodological studies to further our understanding of thermochronological dating techniques, and surface process studies to investigate feedback mechanisms between tectonics, climate and the geomorphic evolution. For this we plan to extend and enlarge the existing fission track analytical facilities in Bremen and set up a new Helium mass spectrometer for (UTh)/ He thermochronology. Fission track and (U-Th)/He facilities will be complemented by a new processing line for cosmogenic nuclide analysis. Costs for the latter will be covered by the University of Bremen. The combination of all three methods covers practically the whole analytical range used for investigating surface and near-surface processes and will thus allows us to conduct cutting-edge research.“

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Instrumentation Group: 1710 Partialdruck-, Restgas-Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität Bremen
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Cornelia Spiegel