Development of Radiocarbon isotope detection by Laser Spectroscopy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20485
• Project/Area Number (Other): 19H05581 (2019)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2020); Single-year Grants (2019)
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 63:Environmental analyses and evaluation and related fields
• Research Institution: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Sakai Saburo 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋機能利用部門(生物地球化学センター), 主任研究員 (90359175)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: レーザー分光 / 二酸化炭素 / 放射性同位体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project aims to develop a "new ultra-sensitive 14C spectroscopy" by combining the most advanced laser spectroscopy with micro-machining technology, which is difficult to challenge in basic research, and to achieve a breakthrough in radiocarbon (14C) measurement methods.
The most significant achievement in this research is the high reflectivity results obtained for a small mirror structure targeting the mid-infrared region. At the same time, a mechanism for electrically pulsing a continuous oscillation laser was established, and a series of structures for gas detection was completed.

Free Research Field

生物地球化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果の学術的・社会的意義は、中赤外域をターゲットにした小型のミラー構造について高反射率の結果を得たことである。これまで近赤外域での技術であったが、本研究で初めて、中赤外域にその技術を拡大することができた点である。