The Thermo Scientific™ Triton™ Series Multicollector Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) is a high-precision platform designed for the most demanding isotope ratio measurements. Built on more than two decades of continuous development, the Triton Series combines field-proven TIMS performance with state-of-the-art detection and ion-optical technologies to deliver exceptional accuracy, stability, and sensitivity—especially for small samples and low-abundance isotopes.
At the heart of the Triton Series is a high-stability thermal ionization source, optimized for maximum ion transmission and minimal kinetic energy spread. This ensures highly reproducible ion beams for both single- and double-filament techniques, enabling precise isotope ratio analysis across a wide range of elements and applications.
Thermo Scientific Triton Series Multicollector Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS)
Advanced detection and ion optics
The Triton Series integrates multiple complementary detector technologies to address diverse analytical challenges:
- 10¹³ Ω Amplifier Technology extends the lower detection limits, delivering faster response times, extremely low noise, and significantly improved internal precision for small ion beams.
- Retarding Potential Quadrupole (RPQ) lenses provide exceptional abundance sensitivity by suppressing scattered ions and mass tailing, enabling accurate quantification of minor isotopes even next to intense ion beams.
- Multi Ion Counting (MIC) packages allow simultaneous detection of the lowest-intensity ion beams using SEM and CDD ion counters, with flexible configurations tailored to nuclear, geochronological, and geochemical applications.
- Stable, linear SEM and CDD ion counters ensure reliable measurements for ultra-low sample amounts and rare isotopes.
- High-performance Faraday cups guarantee uniform response, long operational lifetime, and excellent linearity for high-precision static and dynamic measurements.
- Movable multicollector array supports up to nine Faraday cups with precise alignment over a wide mass range, extendable to static Ca and Li isotope measurements.
- Virtual amplifier technology enables cancellation of gain factor uncertainties through amplifier rotation, achieving low-ppm external reproducibility in efficient static measurement modes.
Designed for the most demanding isotope ratio applications
The Triton Series is ideally suited for applications where ultimate precision and high abundance sensitivity are essential, including:
- Radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry
- Geochronology (U–Pb, Pb–Pb, Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd, Lu–Hf systems)
- Nuclear safeguards and nuclear forensic isotope analysis
- Environmental and cosmochemical research
- Analysis of ultra-small sample amounts and isotopically scarce materials
Available in configurations such as Triton XT and Triton Plus, tailored to different performance priorities within high-precision isotope ratio analysis, the Thermo Scientific Triton Series TIMS offers a flexible, future-proof solution that continues to set the benchmark for thermal ionization mass spectrometry.
