National Laboratory of Cosmogenic Nucleides
The National Laboratory for Cosmogenic Nucleides (LN2C) is a structure dedicated to the use of cosmogenic nuclides in Earth and Universe Sciences, including sample preparation and cosmogenic isotope measurements.
Its mission is to provide the French scientific community with efficient access to these methods in the context of research projects in the following areas, among others
. the natural hazards and risksThe following are examples of the types of damage that can be caused by earthquakes or landslides
. the past evolution of the climatefor example with the dating of markers associated with the ice ages
. the landscape dynamics and the determination of current and past erosion rates
. the dating of archaeological sites
. the evolution of the magnetic field over time
The LN2C consists of a set of laboratories for the purification and preparation of different types of samples (rocks, soils, water, etc.) as well as the measurement of different isotope ratios (10Be/9Be, 26Al/27Al, 36Cl/35Cl,...) by the national ASTER instrument (Accelerator Mass Spectrometer). It brings together academics, researchers, engineers and technicians specialised in these tools and attached to AMU, CNRS and IRD.
The LN2C was founded by Didier Bourlès (AMU Professor) and has been hosted by CEREGE on the Technopôle de l'Arbois in Aix-en-Provence since 2006.
The installation of the ASTER instrument was made possible by an initial investment from the Bouches du Rhône General Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the CNRS, the IRD and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region.
The LN2C is a Technology Platform of Aix-Marseille University and is part of the REGEF network. Its operation is supported by a recurrent grant from the CNRS and the IRD.
The LN2C has benefited from the Investissements d'Avenir programme via the EQUIPEX ASTER-CEREGE, which has enabled the installation of a new source for the ASTER accelerator.