Carbon dating. Sample preparation for carbon dating using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The sample is being placed into the incinerator module of a mass spectrometer. The sample will be burnt and the ratio of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes measured. This gives information on sample purity. All living material incorporates a radioactive isotope of carbon,carbon-14 (14C),and a stable isotope,carbon-12 (12C),into its tissue at a known ratio. When the tissue dies the amount of 12C remains constant,but 14C decays. Measuring the amount of 14C compared to 12C in a sample indicates how long ago the tissue died. Photographed at Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit,University of Oxford,UK | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / King-Holmes, James |
Bildgröße: | 3682 px × 4745 px |
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Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
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