A noniterative solution of the (U-Th)/He age equation

Abstract

We present a direct solution of the (U-Th)/He age equation for age that obviates the need for an iterative solution. The uncertainties of this solution are sufficiently small to allow its use as a quasi-analytical solution of this age equation. The direct algorithm has the obvious advantage of greater simplicity. Moreover inversion algorithms for (U-Th)/He age profiles and coupled three-dimensional thermal-age-landscape models will profit from the resulting gain in computational speed. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.