The WiscSIMS lab houses a CAMECA IMS-1280. The IMS-1280 is a large radius multi-collector ion microprobe incorporating many improvements over earlier instruments, several of which are designed to enhance precision and accuracy of isotope ratio analysis. The detector assembly includes a total of 10 electron multiplier and Faraday Cup detectors with five moveable trolleys for simultaneous analysis of a wide range of isotope systems. Both alkali metal (Cs+) and duoplasmatron (O-, O+) sources are available. Spot sizes as small as 250 nm are possible (with Cs), but more generally, a spot of 10 μm diameter by 1 μm deep is used to increase sample size (~1ng/analysis) and optimize accuracy and precision. Precision for δ18O and δ17O in well-polished silicates is typically ±0.3‰, (2 SD, spot-to-spot) with 10 μm diameter spots (Kita et al. 2009 Chem Geol; Valley & Kita 2009 MAC Shortcourse v 41).
A series of tutorials was presented by WiscSIMS personnel at the 2013 workshop “High Resolution Proxies of Paleoclimate”
- SIMS Basics (pdf; Noriko Kita, June 2013)
- Accuracy vs. Precision in SIMS Analysis (pdf; John Valley, June 2013)
- Analysis of Biogenic Carbonates (pdf; Reinhard Kozdon, June 2013)
- Approaches to Speleothem Analysis (pdf; Ian Orland, June 2013)