Our laboratory is equipped with an Applied Spectra RESOlution SE excimer laser (193 nm wavelength), a state-of-the-art instrument designed for high-precision material ablation and microanalysis. The laser delivers fluence up to 20 J/cm² with a pulse width of 5 nanoseconds, operating at repetition rates up to 300 Hz, and supports spot sizes up to 100 µm. The RESOlution SE laser is coupled to different analytical systems:

• A S155 dual-volume cell connected to the single-quadrupole ICP-MS for qualitative and quantitative elemental analyses
• An ultra-high vacuum sample cell connected to our Alphachron gas mass spectrometer for (U-Th)/He dating

This latter configuration forms what is known as the RESOchron system, enabling cutting-edge research in geochronology and thermochronology. For more details contact Christoph Glotzbach and see Applied Spectra’s RESOlution SE specifications.

Our laboratory hosts a fully automated Alphachron ultra-high vacuum gas extraction and measurement line, purpose-built for high-precision (U-Th)/He thermochronology. The system allows gases to be extracted from individual mineral grains either by heating with a 915 nm diode laser or by ablation using our RESOlution SE excimer laser.
Extracted gases are purified and analyzed using a Peiffer Prisma quadrupole mass spectrometer, enabling qualitative measurement of gas species up to mass 100. For quantitative helium analysis, the system is equipped with calibrated ³He and ⁴He tanks, ensuring the accuracy required for geochronological applications.
This advanced setup enables precise conventional whole grain and in-situ (U-Th)/He measurements required for accurate thermal history reconstructions and studying exhumation processes in Earth sciences.

Our lab operates an Agilent 7900 ICP-MS, a highly versatile single quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with a collision cell. This instrument supports a wide range of applications for the analysis of major and trace elements across diverse sample types.
The 7900 ICP-MS features very low dwell times, making it ideal for advanced tasks such as single nanoparticle measurements. For liquid samples, the system includes an autosampler with an integrated sample introduction system (ISIS), allowing for high-speed, automated sample handling. Solid samples can be analysed via coupling with our excimer laser, enabling precise ablation and direct introduction into the plasma.
For more information, please contact Christoph Glotzbach and see the Agilent 7900 instrument specifications.