Vacuum-arc plasma centrifuge experiment

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 17; no. 5; pp. 701 - 704
• Main Authors: Del Bosco, E., Dallaqua, R.S., Bittencourt, J.A., Ludwig, G.O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.10.1989
• Subjects: 07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; 700101 > Fusion Energy > Plasma Research > Confinement, Heating, & Production; 700102 > Fusion Energy > Plasma Research > Diagnostics; ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES; Anodes; Cathodes; CENTRIFUGE ENRICHMENT PLANTS; Chemical elements; ELECTRIC PROBES; FURNACES; INDUSTRIAL PLANTS; ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS; ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS; ISOTOPES; LANGMUIR PROBE; MAGNESIUM ISOTOPES; Magnetic field measurement; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MASS SPECTROMETERS; Mass spectroscopy; MATERIALS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MULTIPOLES; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS; Plasma materials processing; Plasma measurements; PLASMA PRODUCTION; Plasma sources; PROBES; QUADRUPOLES; SPECTROMETERS 070100 > Physical Isotope Separation; VACUUM FURNACES
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/27.41185

The authors describe the vacuum-arc plasma centrifuge developed at the Institute for Space Research (INPE) in Brazil. The experiment is characterized by its relatively small dimensions. Angular rotation frequencies in the range of 1.9*10/sup 5/ rad/s to 3.5*10/sup 5/ rad/s, measured with langmuir probes, are presented for a magnesium plasma. Enrichments of 15% for /sup 25/Mg and 26% for /sup 26/Mg were measured with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The dependence of magnesium isotope enrichments upon the magnetic field is also presented. It is noted that the existence of an optimum value for the B field is important for future scaling laws of plasma centrifuges.< >