Both Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers have been used.
Accuracy and reproducibility (2s ): ±0.4‰ for d18O
±0.2‰ for d13C
Laser Ablation for Stable Isotope Analysis
LASSIE (laser ablation sampler for stable isotope extraction - coined by Prof. Max Coleman) is an instrument developed by us that enables rapid stable isotope analysis of extremely small (~10 mm) areas of carbonates, selected from a thin rock slice. This allows practical routine integration of petrography with isotopic analysis.
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Schematic of LASSIE system. Both Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers have been used. |
| Photomicrograph of a limestone section. Accuracy and reproducibility (2s ): ±0.4‰ for d18O ±0.2‰ for d13C |
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Recent work shows that we can dispense with the mass spectrometer and do the analysis in the gas phase. So stable isotope analysis in the field looks on! For further information, and requests for special systems, we are