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Abstract
An experiment was undertaken on the isotopic separation by DC cataphoresis of neon gas of natural isotopic abundance, which proved through analysis of gas sampled after stabilization that the heavier isotope 22Ne became enriched in the region of cathode, and the lighter isotope 20Ne in that of anode. The maximum separation factor obtained by this means was 1.072. The effect on the obtainable separation factor brought by differences in experimental conditions was examined using a capillary tube of 3.7mm diameter and of 100 and 150mm alternative lengths, with discharge current parametrically varied between 4 and 8 A in 4 steps and discharge pressure between 5 and 30 Torr in 5–6 steps. From the experimental data thus obtained, a non-dimensionalized equation was derived giving the enrichment factor as function of experimentally determinable values—e.g. cross section, discharge current and pressure, strength of electric field and electron drift velocity.