Isotope analysis device and method

An isotope analysis device, comprising:

• speed changing means for speed changing isotope ions traveling along a first path to produce speed changed isotope particles;
• neutralizing means connected to said speed changing means for neutralizing selected speed changed isotope to produce selected speed changed neutral isotype particles;
• ionizing means connected to said neutralizing means for ionizing selected speed changed neutral isotope particles to produce selected isotope ions;
• cycling means connected to said ionizing means for cycling said selected isotope ions along a second path which is separated from said first path.

An isotope analysis device, comprising:

• an ion source means for producing isotope ions having a desired kinetic energy;
• cycling means connected to said ion source means for confining and cycling said isotope ions;
• transporting means for transporting said isotope ions from said ion source means into said cycling means;
• means for focusing and steering said isotope ions within said cycling means;
• speed changing means connected to said cycling means for changing the speed of said isotope ions in said cycling means;
• neutralizing means connected to said cyc1ing means for neutralizing selected isotope ions after the speed of said isotope ions has been changed by said speed changing means;
• ionizing means connected to said speed changing means for ionizing selected neutralized isotope particles after they emerge from said neutralizing means;
• separating means connected to said cycling means for separating selected isotope ions into different orbits according to their mass and speed, said cycling means cycling said selected isotope ions through said neutralizing means and said ionizing means as many times as desired to achieve enrichment of said selected isotope ions;
• and
• means for detecting and/or collecting said selected isotope ions after a predetermined number of orbits through said speed changing means, said neutralizing means and said ionizing means.

An isotope entichment device, comprising:

• an ion source means for producing isotope ions having a desired kinetic energy;
• cycling means connected to said ion source means for confining and cycling said isotope ions;
• transporting means for transporting said isotope ions from said ion source means into said cycling means;
• means for focusing and steering said isotope ions within said cycling means;
• speed changing means connected to said cycling means for changing the speed of said isotope ions in said cycling means;
• neutralizing means connected to said cycling means for neutralizing selected isotope ions after the speed of said isotope ions has been changed by said speed changing means;
• ionizing means connected to said speed changing means for ionizing selected neutralized isotope particles after they emerge from said neutralizing means;
• separating means connected to said cycling means for separating selected isotope ions into different orbits according to their mass and speed, said cycling means cycling said selected isotope ions through said neutralizing means and said ionizing means as many times as desired to achieve enrichment of said selected isotope ions;
• and
• means for collecting isotopically enriched selected isotope ions after a predetermined number cf orbits through said speed changing means, said neutralizing means and said ionizing means.

A particle handling device, comprising:

• a particle speed changing means for changing the speed of charged particles traveling along a path to produce speed changed charged particles;
• neutralizing means connected to said speed changing means for neutralizing said speed changed charged particles to produce speed changed neutral particles;
• and
• ionizing means connected to said neutralizing means for ionizing speed changed neutral particles to produce speed changed charged particles.

A method of handling particles, comprising the steps of:

• changing the speed of charged particles traveling along a first path to produce speed changed charged particles;
• neutralizing said speed changed charged particles to produce speed changed neutral particles
• ionizing said speed changed neutral particles to produce speed changed charged particles;
• and
• cycling said speed changed charged particles along a second path which is separated from said first path.

A method for analyzing isotopes, comprising the steps of:

• speed changing isotope ions traveling along a first path at a speed changing station to produce speed changed isotope particles;
• neutralizing selected speed changed isotope particles at a neutralizing station to produce neutral speed changed isotope particles;
• ionizing selected speed changed neutral isotope particles at an ionizing station to produce selected isotope ions;
• and
• cycling said selected isotope ions along a second path separated from said first path to remove unionized species and thereby enrich said selected isotope ions.