Liquid-Water Isotope Analyzer

The improved Los Gatos Research (LGR) Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer (model LWIA-24d) provides measurements of δ¹⁸O and δ²H of water in liquid and discrete vapor samples with unsurpassed performance. Measurements of both δ¹⁸O and  δ²H are reported at the unmatched speed of (at least) 1080 injections per day, which corresponds to 180 total samples and 150 unknowns per day (while still incorporating 6 injections per sample). For measurements of even more samples per day, LGR provides users with the option of reducing the number of injections per sample.

The LWIA-24d is ideal for a wide variety of hydrological, analytical, and biological applications that involve measurements of fresh water, seawater, and other liquids. The Analyzer’s ease-of-use, field durability, and high throughput make it the industry standard analyzer for these types of measurements.  LGR’s Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer is used by researchers, scientists, governmental agencies and intergovernmental organizations on all seven continents.

The LWIA-24d uses LGR’s patented Off-axis ICOS technology, a fourth-generation cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) technique, which employs an optical cavity to greatly enhance spectral absorption and enable extremely precise measurements. LGR’s patented technology has many proven advantages over conventional first-generation CRDS techniques. For example, it eliminates the need to precisely match the optical cavity to the laser wavelength and thus eliminates the need for ultra-precise beam alignment, temperature control, and wavelength monitoring.  As a result, the Analyzer is inherently simple, robust, and easy to build.  Finally, due to the simplicity and speed of the measurement technique and the data collection system, all LGR analyzers provide users with the entire absorption spectra for comprehensive performance validation continuously and in real time.

The LWIA-24d has an internal computer (Linux OS) that can store data practically indefinitely on an internal hard disk drive and send real-time data to a data logger via the digital (RS232) or Ethernet outputs.  The new advanced analysis software included with the LWIA-24d automatically provides flags/notifiers that identify the presence of interferences due to contaminants in the water samples in real time during data collection.  

In addition, the Analyzer includes advanced Post Analysis Software which provides many features designed to increase user productivity, decrease data processing time, and provide data and system diagnostics.  This new Post Analysis Software package automatically performs many data analysis procedures that were previously done by researchers after the data was collected. Among the capabilities of the Post Analysis Software package are to automatically apply calibration standard measurements recorded during the sample run, to graphically display all results, and to fully diagnose instrument operation.  Moreover, the  Post Analysis Software includes LGR's Spectral Contamination Identifier technology, which quantifies the presence of organic contaminants in water samples based on analyses of the measured high-resolution absorption spectra recorded by the LWIA-24d.

As with all LGR analyzers, the LWIA-24d may be controlled remotely via the Internet. This capability allows the user to operate the analyzer using a web browser practically anywhere Internet access is available. Furthermore, remote access allows bios-level control of the instrument and provides the opportunity to obtain and share data and diagnose the instrument operation without being on site.