METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATION OF ISOTOPES Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: isotope separation. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the first concentration step of two-step process of radioactive isotope production. Method includes ionization of vapors of substance being separated, acceleration of ions by electrostatic field applied to ion source, separation of accelerated ions according to their masses in uniform magnetic field, and accumulation of isotopes on receivers. In the method, isotopes of peripheral zone of cylindrical plasma source are accelerated in radial direction by agency of electrostatic field in closed cylindrical electron Hall layer having thickness equal to Larmor electron radius. Circular trajectories of accelerated ions in transverse magnetic field and electrical equipotential space are controlled by varying ratio of magnitudes of accelerating voltage and magnetic field strength in such a way that mechanical restriction of heavy ions' displacement occurs along radial coordinate, and that of light ions along longitudinal coordinate. Apparatus of invention constitutes a magnetic system disposed around vacuum chamber enclosing source of accelerated ions with isotope receivers. Source of ions is constructed in the form of two electrodes (cathode and anode) placed on one shaft in vacuum chamber, which function as light ion receivers. Receiver of heavy ions is made in the form of cooled peripheral cylindrical electrode installed coaxially with cathode and anode. When separating calcium isotopes where desired one is ⁴⁸Ca, to produce 1 g of material containing 99 wt % ⁴⁸Ca, operation time of the two steps is 460 h and accelerating voltage does not exceed several hundred volts. EFFECT: increased separation degree.