Distribution of the lithium deposition on the collector during separation of lithium isotopes by the plasma ICR method

Abstract

Results of experiments on isotope separation by the ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) method in plasma are presented. The deposition of hot lithium ions on a plane collector was studied. The density distribution and isotope composition of lithium deposited on the surface of the plane collector were measured. It is found that, without applying a positive potential to the collector plate, the deposition density is nonuniform in the direction perpendicular to the external magnetic field, whereas in the presence of a retarding potential (+20 V), the deposited layer becomes almost uniform. It is shown that the asymmetry of deposition is not caused by the rotating RF field selectively heating ions of the extracted isotope. Possible reasons for the nonuniform deposition of lithium on the collector are discussed.