Ultrasensitive Molecular Identifier

Detection and tracking of toxic chemicals often employs the use of radio-isotopes as a moleculartag. The sensitivity of radioisotope tracking has been drastically improved over the past decade throughthe use of accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS). Present enhancement factors for trace isotopes areas large as l.OE+09 in the case of 129-I. While extremely useful for a wide range of applications, theAMS measurements have limitations in their lack of molecular structural information. A method isproposed to design a compact commercial detection system which will provide the sensitivity of AMSand will also yield such molecular structural data. A liquid or gas chromatograph stage will be used forinput into a pyrolyzing ion source system. The new instrument will operate in a standard laboratoryenvironment, produce no radiation, and will fit in an area of <5x3m. Phase I will concentrate onmachine design for l4-C detection. The Phase II will provide a complete assembly and testing of thecompact detection system for a wide molecular range. This R&D will provide an attractive instrumentfor a commercial system, viable in a variety of biomedical fields.