Nu Instruments | Ne Isotope Ratios Measured with Noblesse
This application note explains how Noblesse measures Ne isotope ratios while addressing key interferences, including ⁴⁰Ar²⁺ on ²⁰Ne⁺ and ²⁰NeH on ²¹Ne. It shows how high mass resolving power and efficient measurement strategies support precise Ne isotope analysis.
Ne isotope measurement is challenging because of low isotope abundance and isobaric interferences at key masses. Noblesse uses enhanced mass resolving power to separate important interferences and enable accurate measurement of ²⁰Ne, ²¹Ne and ²²Ne.
The note describes measurements using a 1 Faraday and 3 ion-counting multiplier configuration. A wide collector slit and MRP 5200 were used to measure ²⁰Ne⁺ free from ⁴⁰Ar²⁺, while ²¹Ne was measured without significant ²⁰NeH interference.
Results show that ²⁰Ne/²²Ne and ²¹Ne/²²Ne ratios remained constant across a tenfold range in sample size. The method delivers precision close to the theoretical counting-statistics limit while avoiding the need for complex ion counter calibration.
Key Takeaways:
- Noblesse resolves ⁴⁰Ar²⁺ from ²⁰Ne⁺ for reliable Ne isotope measurement.
- ²¹Ne and ²²Ne can be measured efficiently by multicollection.
- Precision remains stable across a tenfold range of sample sizes.
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