2016 Volume 50 Issue 5 Pages 445-447
A new method for determining the relative Faraday cup efficiency (RFCE) for nine Faraday cups has been developed using 86Sr, 87Sr, and 88Sr isotope signals, and the exponential mass fractionation law. Ten different Faraday cup configurations, combined with a nonlinear solver calculation module in an Excel spreadsheet, allowed for accurate RFCE determination. This method serves as a useful diagnostic tool for characterizing the functionality of Faraday cups.