Method of and apparatus for the separation of isotopes

Abstract From the Canadian patent

This invention relates generally to the separation of isotopes from each other. Presently, the principal means for separating uranium isotopes on a commercial basis is the gaseous diffusion process. In order to increase the capacity of such diffusion plants a heavy capit?l investment is required which may be on the order of many hundred million dollars per year. The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for separating isotopes which are substantially less expensive than those of the prior art yet producing a high yield and is applicable to many elements having more than one isotope. According to the invention initially a neutral plasma is pre-, pared including the element in …