The method is known as thermal ionization mass spectrometry.

One application of thermal ionization is thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS).

Measurements were made by negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry on a 15-inch-radius mass spectrometer at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution.

The institute is capable of performing gas extraction, and thermal ionization mass spectrometry analysis on rocks up to billions of years old using the techniques of argon-argon dating and uranium-lead dating.

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) is a highly sensitive isotope mass spectrometry characterization technique in which a chemically purified sample is heated to cause ionization of the atoms of the sample.

Timing of these events is constrained by cross-cutting relations observed in the field as well as SHRIMP (sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe) and TIMS (thermal ionization mass spectrometry) uranium- lead dating.

Although this is not considered to be very significant here, the improved measurement precision afforded by negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry over previous methods will exacerbate problems with 186 Os normalization, making a switch to 187 Os/ 188 Os desirable.

Several of the isotope systems involved in radiometric dating depend on IRMS using thermal ionization of a solid sample loaded into the source of the mass spectrometer (hence thermal ionization mass spectrometry, TIMS).