Method and apparatus for separation of gaseous particles of different masses by centrifugal forces

Apparatus for separating a gas mixture which is at least partially ionized into a lighter and a heavier fraction by rapid rotation about an axis of a separating chamber by means of magnetic and electrical fields, comprising:

• a hollow cylindrical separating chamber;
• first means for producing a closed static magnetic field configuration within said separating chamber which is rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of said chamber, said first means including a hollow cylindrical electrical coil mounted within said separating chamber and disposed coaxially about said longitudinal axis of said chamber, a direct current source being connected to said coil, an auxiliary coil arrangement coaxially arranged with said separating chamber and extending along the outer surface of the longitudinally extending wall thereof, and direct current source means connected to said auxiliary coil arrangement for supplying a current thereto which flows in the direction which is opposite to the direction of the current through said hollow cylindrical electrical coil;
• and
• second means for producing a plasma of the gas mixture along said longitudinal axis within said separating chamber and for producing an electrical field within said separating chamber whose field lines lie in planes containing said longitudinal axis, said second means including a first arc electrode mounted on one end of said cylindrical coil and along said longitudinal axis, a second arc electrode disposed within said separating chamber on the end wall of said separating chamber which faces said first arc electrode, said second arc electrode being opposite and axially aligned with said first arc electrode, and voltage source means for applying a potential across said first and second arc electrodes.