About NENIMF
Introduction
Welcome to the Northeast National Ion Microprobe Facility (NENIMF)
at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods
Hole, Massachusetts, USA. The NENIMF is one of only two National
Ion Microprobe Facilities supported by the National Science
Foundation (NSF) in the United States of America. We are charged
with providing first class service, scientific expertise and
educational outreach activities to the research community in
the U.S. and beyond. This web site is aimed at providing important
information about the facility and promoting the use of secondary
ion mass spectrometers (SIMS) in research and education.
History
The NENIMF was established in 1996 by Nobumichi Shimizu as an
outgrowth of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
Regional Ion Microprobe Facility, and represents a consortium
effort involving WHOI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), Brown University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI),
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) and the American Museum
of Natural History (AMNH). The facility is equipped with Cameca
IMS 3f and
IMS 1280 ion microprobes that were purchased with support
from NSF, the Kresge Foundation, the Cecil and Ida Green Foundation,
and the Consortium Members.
The NENIMF consortium members cover a broad range of geochemical
research including solar/presolar materials and processes,
early Earth evolution, mantle dynamics, crustal processes
and evolution, environmental monitoring and experimental geochemistry.
Measurements of both the abundances of diverse trace elements
(REE, HFSE, LILE) as well as stable and radiogenic isotopes
are essential components of this research. Technique developments
reflect the broad range of scientific interests of the user
base.
The IMS 3f has been used
since 1978 for a wide spectrum of geochemical studies, and
remains highly effective for in situ trace element and REE
analysis of rock-forming minerals and glasses (spatial resolution
better than 10 μm). More recent applications for the IMS
3f include measurement of δ11B in melt inclusions and
in natural waters (prepared by evaporation) as well as measurement
of Sr, Mg and Ba in marine carbonates for paleotemperature
reconstructions.
The IMS 1280 is a new generation high transmission-high mass
resolution SIMS instrument with a great number of extended
capabilities for geochemical analysis. Types of applications
available now at NENIMF are summarized in the Access section.
The IMS 1270 was seriously damaged in a fire on October 22,
2002. The rebuilt IMS 1280 was delivered to WHOI in January
2005 and was successfully installed and is operational.
Organization
NENIMF consists of Director, Facility Manager, Analyst, Engineer,
and Administrator. They are in charge of daily operational
matters, maintenance and renovation of the instruments, and
development and improvement of analytical protocols. NENIMF
personnel also are responsible for helping and training users.
In order to make management and operation of the facility
satisfactory to the community of scientists in a broad spectrum
of Earth and Ocean Sciences, the NENIIMF Director works closely
with the WHOI Director of Research, the Internal Advisory
Committee, and the External Advisory Committee. The External
Advisory Committee consists of representatives of the consortium
member institutions and representatives of the SIMS technical
and user community outside the consortium, and provides advice
to the NENIMF Director and the WHOI Director of Research on
management/operation of the facility as well as on technical
matters.
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Sponsors
Major funding for the Northeast National Ion Microbe Facility
is provided by the National
Science Foundation and Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution. |
