Autoresonant ion cyclotron isotope separation

Abstract

A new isotope separation process based on selective cyclotron resonant interaction between ions and a tapered helicoidal magnetic structure is identified, analyzed, and evaluated. On the basis of a Hamiltonian analysis, the existence of a class of tapered magnetic modulation that provide a full conversion of linear momentum into angular momentum is discovered. The characteristics and parameters of this field configuration are analyzed and described. The dynamic of the nonresonant isotope is investigated in order to set up a separation criterion. This autoresonant ion cyclotron isotope separation mechanism provides an efficient alternative to other niches of enrichment process. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.