Ion beam production from archaeological samples for radiocarbon mass spectrometry

The most suitable source of negative carbon ions for use in radiocarbon dating with tandem accelerators is shown to be the caesium sputter ion source. As well as producing large high quality beams with high efficiency, this type of source is quiet and stable, has very low background and memory, low production of metastable ions and low isotopic fractionation. Sample changing is simple. Solid samples made from acetylene produced by conventional techniques will be used: such samples providing exceptionally bright carbon beams. (author)