An electromagnetic apparatus with a high resolving power for the separation of the isotopes of the heavy elements

The operating principles and the main features of an electromagnetic apparatus which has been designed and constructed for the separation of isotopes with a relative mass difference of about 1/240 are here described. An axially-symmetric magnetic field is used (focussing angle 225 °) in which the dispersion is proportional to the square of the focussing angle. The dispersion obtained with the separation apparatus is 20 mm for a 1% relative difference in mass. The magnetic field of the apparatus is stabilized to within 0.005% with the help of a circuit containing electron-beam regulators. Ion sources, with a discharge in the vapor of the working and auxiliary substances, were developed for the separation of large and small quantities of the raw material. General-purpose ion collectors were also developed. Some results of the separation of lead, uranium and plutonium isotopes are given. The enrichment factor in the separation of lead isotopes reaches 300, while for uranium and plutonium it is ～ 1000.