26Al measurement with a cyclotron

Abstract

We have used the accelerator facility ALICE to count directly small quantities (∼ 5 × 109 atoms) of the isotope 26Al (half-life = 7.3 x 105 years). We discuss how measurement of this nuclide in marine sediments, in conjunction with similar measurements of 10 Be (half-life = 1.5 × 106 years), can be used as an absolute dating technique. The method used here to avoid interference from the isobar 26Mg is applicable to a number of other isobars of interesting long lived nuclides, thus expanding the potential application of the accelerator technique