Key features
- Proprietary Zoom Lens technology – Allows perfect peak alignment without moving the physical detector, ensuring maximum stability and linearity.
- Advanced ion source chamber design – The ion source is optimized for quick access, completely eliminating sample cross-contamination, enhancing performance and reliability.
- The most flexible detector system – Equipped with 16 fixed Faraday detectors, with options for 2 Daly detectors and 3 SEM ion counting heads. The Faraday-Daly hybrid configuration allows processing concentration ranges from ultra-small samples (size pg) to high-intensity samples.
- Software-controlled switching amplifier – Uses resistors that can be flexibly switched during analysis, optimizing the signal-to-noise ratio for very small-sized samples, with a switching time of just under 1 hour.
- Extremely high stability – Relative standard deviation of <0.005% within 30 minutes, outstanding sensitivity: Pb ionization efficiency reaches 10⁴ cps/pg.
- Automatic multi-dynamic analysis – Changes the Zoom lens in milliseconds right within the magnet's delay time, allowing multi-dynamic cycles to be performed on 4 magnet positions in just one run.
- Batch operation without supervision – The system is optimized to run completely automatically according to sample batches, combined with powerful analytical software, minimizing operational and labor costs.
Detailed description
Technology & principles
TIMS is the standard mass spectrometry technique for isotopic ratios with the highest accuracy. The sample on the filament is heated to create ions, then accelerated, separated, and detected. Nu TIMS uses a 70° magnetic sector configuration (30 cm radius), combined with variable Zoom Optics. The system includes 16 fixed Faraday cups and an ion counting detector (Daly/SEM), with a wide dynamic range from nano to microgram.
Common limitations of MS:
Requires high accuracy (5–10 ppm) for Nd, Sr, Pb, U; rare samples of pg size (zircon, meteorite) require high sensitivity, low background; isobaric interference and poor abundance sensitivity skew U-Pb; traditional TIMS requires manual maintenance, which is time-consuming.
Advantages of the Nu TIMS system:
- Proprietary Zoom Lens aligns millisecond peaks, performs multi-dynamic across multiple magnet positions, increasing accuracy and reproducibility.
- Hybrid detector + 10¹³ Ω amplifier → analyzes Pb at just 5 pg with optimal signal/noise.
- Abundance sensitivity <2 ppm (compared to ²³⁸U), reduces spectral interference.
- Optimized ion source, strong vacuum (turbo 400 L/s, dry scroll, 2 ion pumps), simple maintenance.
Integration & expansion
20-position sample loader (stainless steel), optional rapid degassing, compatible with Ta, Re filaments, zone-refined.
Supports LA-TIMS (laser ablation) for in-situ U-Pb dating on solid samples.
Oxygen bleed option for N-TIMS (Os, W) ultra-high accuracy.
Powerful control and processing software, supporting custom multi‑dynamic, saving Zoom lens configuration.