DE2507624

1503031 Isotope separation F M DEVIENNE 21 Feb 1975 [21 Feb 1974] 5826/75 Heading HID A method of separating isotopes comprises producing a beam of ions of a compound containing the isotopes from a source 6 and accelerating the beam through a series of collision boxes 12 to 16 which contain a neutral target gas such as argon or helium causing dissociation of the ions into ion fragments some of which are distinguished by containing the different isotopes and maintaining the collision boxes at a potential such that ions containing one of the isotopes are preferentially trapped within the boxes and condense on the walls. The other ion fragments are caused by electrostatic deflectors 19 to 23 to condense on a slidably removable liner 11. The method is used for separating uranium isotopes and the initial compounds can be iodides, bromides or chlorides of uranium. The condensation surfaces of the apparatus are cooled. The collection of ion fragments can be improved by the provision of auxiliary collectors at the exits of the collision boxes, Fig. 2(b) (not shown).