An Experimental Study of Noble Gas Isotope Separation by DC ArcDischarge

Experiments are undertaken on the isotope separation by DC discharge through a narrow capillary of gaseous neon, argon and krypton of natural isotopic abundance. It is confirmed that the heavier isotopes become enriched in the region of cathode, and the lighter isotopes in that of anode. The effect on the obtainable separation factor brought by differences in experimental conditions is examined by changing the capillary tube diameter, tube length, discharge current and discharge pressure. The separation factor improves with increasing the tube length and the discharge current, and with decreasing the discharge pressure and the tube diameter. Ion density and electron temperature are measured in the positive column to compare the present experimental results with existing theories. The order of the isotope enrichment factor is well explained by the theory of the ion diffusive friction force onto isotopically different neutral molecules, together with the theory of the ionization degree of the different isotopic species.