The parts of the AMS spectrometer are placed on sides of a square 5x5m large. Assembled, they form one high-vacuum chamber, about 15m long.

To determine carbon isotopic ratios (¹⁴C/¹²C and ¹⁴C/¹³C), the AMS machine simultaneously measures number of ¹²C, ¹³C and ¹⁴C atoms released from cathode earlier produced from the sample .
The AMS machine produces carbon ions in the ion source, and injects them into accelerator. To avoid interference with other elements, ions of desired mass are separated in the injection magnet. The injected ions (¹²C^-, ¹³C^- and ¹⁴C^-) are pulled into the accelerator terminal (charged to potential of +500,000V), there transform into ¹²C⁺, ¹³C⁺ and ¹⁴C⁺, and are pushed away, towards analysing magnet. This magnet directs ¹²C⁺ and ¹³C⁺ ions into specified spots in the drift chamber, which measure electric current of both types of ions. The rare ions of ¹⁴C⁺, after passing electrostatic analyser, hit the detector sensitive to count them.
All essential parts and parameters of the spectrometer, during maintenance and measurements are computer controlled and may be set from the console.
 

Low-energy side of the AMS spectrometer	High-energy side of the AMS spectrometer