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Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods pp 1–5Cite as

Single-Crystal Laser Fusion

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Synonyms

Laser spot dating; Single-crystal step-heating; Single-crystal total fusion

Definition

An analytical technique in Ar–Ar (40Ar/39Ar) dating in which a laser is used to heat single crystals of minerals in order to extract argon isotopes for measurement in a mass spectrometer.

Introduction and Modes of Operation

Improvements in the sensitivity of argon mass spectrometers have enabled the measurement of argon isotopes released from the single crystals of K-bearing minerals. In order to release the argon from the crystal structure, in an environment with minimal contamination from the atmosphere and experimental conditions, lasers have been employed in combination with low-volume extraction lines and sample chambers. The earliest use of lasers in single-crystal Ar–Ar dating was by Megrue (1967), who employed a pulsed ruby laser to analyze meteorite samples. York et al. (1981) documented the first use of a continuous-wave laser in a thermochronological study of metamorphic rocks...

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Bibliography

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Miller Hall, Kingston, ON, Canada

    James K. W. Lee

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    James K. W. Lee

Authors
  1. James K. W. Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James K. W. Lee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    W. Jack Rink

  2. Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jeroen Thompson

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Lee, J.K.W. (2013). Single-Crystal Laser Fusion. In: Rink, W., Thompson, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_41-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_41-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6326-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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