Method and apparatus for extracting ions from a partially ionized plasma using a magnetic field gradient

摘要

Method and apparatus for separating selectively ionized particles from a plasma of moving particles by application of a magnetic field gradient in a direction to which the ionized particles are to be accelerated for collection. By creating conditions of adiabatic particle motion for charged particles in the magnetic field, the selectively ionized particles will be induced to follow the magnetic field lines in the direction of weaker field strength. The direction of this gradient is made different from the general direction of particle motion to permit extraction of the ions from the plasma. The extracted ions deposit on a collection surface in enriched proportions.