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Vacuum-arc plasma centrifuge experiment

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.41185· OSTI ID:6671576
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  1. Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), Sao Jose dos Campos, SP (Brazil)
Vacuum-arc plasma centrifuges, for isotope and element enrichment, have been studied to some extent over the last decade. This paper describes the vacuum-arc plasma centrifuge developed at the Institute for Space Research (INPE). The experiment is characterized by its relatively small dimensions. Angular rotation frequencies in the range of 1.9 {times} 10{sup 5} rad/s to 3.5 {times} 10{sup 5} rad/s, measured with Langmuir probes, are presented for a magnesium plasma. Enrichments of 15 percent for {sup 25}Mg and 26 percent for {sup 26}Mg were measured with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The dependence of magnesium isotope enrichments upon the magnetic field is also presented.
OSTI ID:
6671576
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA) Vol. 17:5; ISSN ITPSB; ISSN 0093-3813
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English