In 1947 Bauer, and later independently Huntley (1948), pointed out that the helium content of iron meteorites as measured by Paneth and coworkers could be accounted for by the accumulation through cosmic-ray production rather then the decay of uranium and thorium. Bauer (1947) also predicted that the meteroitic helium should contain a significant proportion of He3. I was realized that by studying the effects of cosmic radiation on meteorites much could be learned about the history of meteorite and cosmic radiation. Chemical and instrumental techniques have been developed for the isolation, purification, and measurement of cosmic-ray-induced C14 in both stone and iron meteorites. The isolation of carbon from the silicate materials is done by fusion in an oxidizing flux in a vacuum system. From the iron meteorites the carbon is recovered by the decomposition of the metal in nitric acid in a closed system.

"The ion source used for hydrogen and deuterium ions in the variable energy cyclotron at the University of Rochester is of the hooded arc type. For the past year it has been operating with a new feature which has greatly improved its performance. The new feature is a magnetic mirror built into the upper end of the arc hood by a simple insertion of a steel bearing ball 1/8" in diameter. The magnetic field gradient near the ball provides a magnetic mirror action on electrons moving up the arc channel toward the ball, reflecting may of them."