Separation in a centrifuge-model

Summary

The gas centrifuges which were used for isotope separation ^1,2) have cylindrical rotors. In consequence of the equality of the relaxation times for diffusion and gas motion, and taking into account the pressure-dependence of the diffusion constant, the time-dependent equation for a cylindrical centrifuge is rather complicated ³). Therefore a simple centrifuge-model where gas motion does not need to be considered is of interest. Though the theoretical maximum peripheral velocity for this model is up to √2-times higher than for a cylindrical rotor ¹), this interest is only mathematical.