A numerical study of neon isotope separation in a dc discharge through a narrow capillary

摘要

A numerical simulation was undertaken on the neon isotope separation in a de discharge through a narrow capillary. The mass transport phenomenon of neutral particles as well as ions in the positive column was treated by the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, whereas electrons were treated as background particles in the simulation to evaluate the effects of electron collisions onto the neutral particles, by applying the concept of a hybrid particle simulation. The numerical results qualitatively agreed with existing experimental results, concerning not only the isotope separation phenomena, but also the pressure difference between the region of the anode and that of the cathode. It was also found that the neutral particles of the positive column flow to the anode side near the axially central region due to the electron impact, whereas they flow to the cathode direction near the capillary wall due to the ion wind. [References: 33]