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Quantitative isotope enrichment in a thermal diffusion arrangement

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Abstract

The problem of enrichment of a gas sample by a definite factor is considered. It occurs, for example, when the radiocarbon dating method is to be extended to higher ages. The case of a thermal diffusion column with finite reservoirs at both ends is investigated and the decisive benefit of a high separation factor for the sufficient knowledge and reproducibility of the enrichment factor is pointed out. The relation between the factors as well as their temporal behaviour is developed in two ways: Simple formulae with physical evidence are adapted to make allowance for the content of the column itself, and then verified by deriving the exact isotope distribution from the partial differential equation.

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Abbreviations

c :

concentration of the molecules containing the desired isotope

c 0 :

concentration in the mixture before enrichment

c − :

concentration at the negative end and in the negative reservoir

c + :

concentration at the positive end and in the positive reservoir

H, K :

coefficients in the transport equation

L :

length of separation column

M :

mass of gas in the negative reservoir

m :

mass of gas in the positive reservoir

m′, m″ :

fictitious masses

q≡c +/c − :

separation factor

q ∞ :

q at final equilibrium

q′≡c +/c − :

enrichment factor

t :

time

t r :

relaxation time

t k :

time constants,k=0, 1, 2, ...

z :

coordinate along the column 0≦z≦L

μ:

mass of gas per cm length of the column

τ:

transport of the desired isotope in the positivez direction

τ0≡τ(t=0):

initial transport

χ k :

auxiliary quantities,k=0, 1, 2, ...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Radiumforschung und Kernphysik, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Boltzmanngasse 3, A-1090, Wien, Austria

    Heinz Felber & Edwin Pak

Authors
  1. Heinz Felber
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  2. Edwin Pak
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Felber, H., Pak, E. Quantitative isotope enrichment in a thermal diffusion arrangement. Appl. Phys. 5, 147–152 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00928227

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00928227

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