VERAcore

For all isotopes that can be detected at VERA, we provide measurements for the international scientific community. In general, we have to ask for a contribution to the costs (price list for measurements at VERAcore as of January 2024).

For free-of-charge measurements, see support by the HEAS research platform or by our EU-funded projects ChETEC-INFRA and ReMade@ARI.

You can also apply to our VERAcore Seed Grants for free-of-charge pilot AMS measurements two times a year: 1st May and 1st November.

For requests regarding measurements, including special discounts (e.g., HEAS research platform) please contact directly:

NuclideContact/s
14CMonika Bolka, Peter Steier
10Be, 26Al, 36ClSilke Merchel
41CaSilke Merchel, Martin Martschini
90SrMartin Martschini
129ISilke Merchel, Peter Steier
Actinides (e.g. 236U, 239Pu)

Karin Hain, Peter Steier

For sending samples, please see information below:

NuclideMaterialMetal binderCathodeReference
14C

at least 1 mg C1

chemistry generally performed at VERA by our staff

to be chemically prepared and pressed at VERAto be chemically prepared and pressed at VERA

(Steier et al., 2004)

10BeBeO

BeO:Nb = 1:2 to 1:4 by mass

(min. 0.7 mg Nb)2

Cu (with Cu pin)Bachelor's thesis, Ibrahimovic
26AlAl2O3

Al2O3:Fe = 1:1 to 1:2 by mass

(min. 0.7 mg Fe)3

Cu (with Cu pin)(Lachner et al., 2021)
36ClAgClto be pressed at VERAto be pressed at VERA(Lachner et al., 2019)
90SrSrF2

SrF2:PbF2 = 1:8 by mass

(min. 0.7 mg PbF2)4

Cu (with Cu pin)(Martschini, 2024)
129IAgI

AgI:Ag = 1:2 by mass

(min. 0.7 mg Ag)5

Cu (with Cu pin)(Kamleitner et al., 2019)
Actinides (e.g., 236U, 239Pu)

Fe2O3

(2 mg Fe3+)

-Al (with Al pin)(Hain et al., 2022)

 

1The following recommendations are not requirements, they are general guidelines:

  • 1 g of bone (also if cremated)
  • 5-100 mg of charcoal or wood
  • 50-100 mg of leather
  • 1 g of organic sediment
  • 10-100 mg of peat
  • 5-100 mg of plants or seeds
  • 10-100 mg of sheel or coral

For smaller samples, please contact us. We currently have no capabilities to extract 14C from quartz (for in-situ dating) or meteorites (for terrestrial or exposure ages).

2Sigma Aldrich Niobium Powder, <45 micron, 99.8%

3Fisher Iron Powder, -200 mesh, 99+%

4Fisher Lead(II) fluoride, Puratronic™, 99.997%

5Fisher Silver Powder, -120 mesh, Premion™, 99.999%

 

For cosmogenic nuclides, please label containers as follows: for 10Be in black, for 26Al in blue, for 36Cl in green, and for 41Ca with a red pen.

FAQ’s:

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  • Is there any possibility for free-of-charge AMS measurements at VERA?

    Yes! Two times a year you can apply for VERAcore Seed Grants. Two proposals are funded in every call: one for 14C (including sample preparation) and one for non-14C projects (not including sample preparation).

    It is also possible to have free-of-charge analyses of your samples:

    • for partners of the HEAS research platform, special conditions apply for radiocarbon measurements. The platform also offers you the possibility of applying to the HEAS Seed Grants.
    • in the context of astrophysics via the Horizon 2020 project ChETEC-INFRA: Chemical Elements as Tracers of the Evolution of the Cosmos - Infrastructures for Nuclear Astrophysics. You must not be affiliated in Austria, and a positive evaluation of a proposal is needed, too.
    • in the context of development of materials for a circular economy via the Horizon Europe project ReMade@ARI: Recyclable Materials Development at Analytical Research Infrastructures. You must not be affiliated in Austria, and a positive evaluation of a proposal is needed, too.
  • Can I have my samples prepared by the VERA lab staff?

    Yes! Please contact the person in charge of the measurements of the radionuclide (see table at the top of this page) to discuss the details in advance.

  • Can I do sample preparation myself at the labs in Vienna?

    Yes! We are hosting people to perform their own sample preparation at our labs under our guidance (e.g., 10Be, 26Al, 41Ca, actinides). There might also be an option to use the 36Cl lab at the BOKU in Vienna, which is run by Stephanie Neuhuber.

    Generally, this is not the case for 14C, since the chemical preparation for these samples is performed by our staff.

  • Which is the deadline for submitting samples and when is the next measurement period (i.e., beamtime) for which nuclide?

    We don’t know (yet)! We have a very flexible beamtime planning depending on technical issues and other demands (scientific, human resources, conference and PhD deadlines,...).

    If you have samples ready, this is, already pressed in cathodes, please send them as soon as possible. At the latest, we would like to have them before Friday morning the week before beamtime starts for a specific nuclide to be most efficient.

    If you send the samples to be pressed at VERA, then they have to be sent well ahead.

    Please contact the person in charge of the measurements of the radionuclide (see table at the top of this page) to discuss details in advance.

  • Do I have to come to Vienna for the measurement?

    No. But please contact the person in charge of the measurements of the radionuclide first (see table at the top of this page). You can send samples to the following address:

     

    University of Vienna

    Faculty of Physics

    Isotope Physics

    VERA Laboratory

    Waehringer Str. 17/Hoftrakt (“Hoftrakt” means it is the backyard house)

    1090 Vienna (Austria)

     

    For sending samples, please see information about cathode, binder and references (table before the FAQ in this page).

  • How do I find the VERA laboratories?

    The address is:

    University of Vienna

    Faculty of Physics

    Isotope Physics

    VERA Laboratory

    Waehringer Str. 17/Hoftrakt (“Hoftrakt” means it is the backyard house)

    1090 Vienna (Austria)

    Arriving by train:
    From the main train station (Wien Hauptbahnhof), you use the exit “Karl-Popper-Strasse” and take the tram D to “Schottentor”. You go one level below street level and take one of the trams to “Schwarzspanierstrasse” (1 stop only). You walk in the direction of travel (crossing the road), cross the road to the opposite side. If you are in front of the restaurant “VinziRast” you turn left and walk into the backyard. There is a wooden door with a bell next to it on the right you should ring (yes, the red button! “Glocke” is German for bell).

    Arriving by plane:
    Take the S7 (S-Bahn) to “Praterstern”. Change to the underground U2 to “Schottentor”. Go one level above to change for tram. See above for further instructions.

    See Wiener Linien for connections to “Schwarzspanierstrasse”.

  • How do I apply for a measurement?
    • Contact the person in charge of the measurements of the radionuclide.
    • In case of application to VERAcore Seed Grants: see information provided here.
    • In case of application to HEAS Seed Grants: see information provided here.
    • In case of a (trans-national) ChETEC-INFRA measurement: see information provided here.
    • In case of a (trans-national) ReMade@ARI measurement: see information provided here.
  • Which standards and in-house calibration materials are used at VERA?

    The following standards and in-house calibration materials are used for routine AMS measurements at VERA: