Radiation-induced cataphoretic isotope separation in He-Ne discharges

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5585078

Lind, B J

A feasibility study on separation of the Ne/sup 20/ and the Ne/sup 22/ isotope in a gaseous discharge using a radiation-induced cataphoretic separation technique was carried out, with negative results. The 0.6328 ..mu..m He-Ne laser radiation was the source used in the first phase of the work and a Ne fluorescent source was used in addition in the later part. The cataphoretic discharge usually contained in a He-Ne mixture with approximately equal quantities of Ne/sup 20/ and Ne/sup 22/. Preferential excitation of the one neon isotope was demonstrated, but selective excitation does not insure selective separation of the neon isotopes through cataphoretic action. Studies have shown that resonant radiation can produce a significant change in the ionization rate and the discharge current, and this effect has been termed both the Penning effect and, more recently, the Optogalvanic effect. Although cataphoretic action is known to be capable of significant separation of neon from helium in the discharge and preferential excitation has been achieved, it does not follow that cataphoretic separation of the neon isotope occurs. The main problem appears to be that under conditions favorable for cataphoretic separation of the helium and neon, the ion exchange reaction in the neon occurs too rapidly.

• Research Organization: Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5585078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
070100* -- Physical Isotope Separation
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROPHORESIS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXCITATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GAS LASERS
HELIUM-NEON LASERS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPES
LASERS
LIGHT NUCLEI
NEON 20
NEON 22
NEON ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES