Argus VI

Compact static vacuum mass spectrometer (SVMS) for isotopic analysis of noble gases, particularly argon. Features include a 13 cm, 90° extended geometry magnetic sector analyzer, advanced beam deflection technology, and Emission Suppression Technology (EST).

• Status: Active
• Country: Germany
• Isotopic: Yes
• Analyte Type / Target Of Analysis: Noble gases
• Measurable Isotopes/Elements: 36Ar, 37Ar, 38Ar, 39Ar, 40Ar, other noble gas isotopes
• Analyzer Type
  : Magnetic Sector MS
• Ion Source Type: Electron impact
• Signal Stability / Relative Standard Deviation
  : ±50 ppm drift in mass over 30 minutes;
• Inlet Types: Two inlet ports with getters, micro ion gauges, and cold traps for sample preparation
• High Resolution
  : Yes
• Mass Resolution/ Mass Resolving Power
  : Axial resolution ≥ 200 (10% peak valley definition)
• Multicollector
  : Yes
• Collectors Qty
  : 5 fixed Faraday cups, optional compact discrete dynode (CDD) electron multiplier
• Sensitivity
  : Argon sensitivity: >1 × 10⁻³ Amps/Torr at 200 µA trap current
• Abundance Sensitivity
  : ≤ 5 ppm for adjacent masses
• Dynamic Range
  : 1 cps to ~1.4 × 10⁶ cps
• Detection Limits
  : Sub-ppb levels for noble gases
• Precision
  : isotopic ratio precision ~0.1%
• Detector Type
  : Faraday detectors and optional CDD electron multiplier
• Possible Amplifiers
  : 10¹⁰, 10¹¹, 10¹², and 10¹³ Ω resistors
• Background
  : ≤ 5e-14 cc STP at mass 36
• Geometry Type
  : Extended geometry
• Focusing Type
  : Single focusing
• Magnetic Sector Radius/ Angle
  : 13 cm radius; 90° deflection
• Cooling System
  : Dry-pumped backing line and water-cooled getter pumps
• Vacuum System
  : Ultra-high static vacuum system: 20 L/s ion pump, 80 L/s turbo pump, two-stage diaphragm pump
• Gas Supply: Noble gases; requires high-purity helium, argon, neon, krypton, or xenon