PURPOSE: To generate the neutral target metallic vapor with the ionization of the target metal suppressed when the metallic vapor is generated with heating the metal at high temp. by heating the target metal at high temp. under the coexistence of the other metal having lower ionization potential than the target metal.
CONSTITUTION: When the metallic vapor is generated by heating the metal at high temp., the target metal, such as U, is heated at high temp. under the coexistence of the other metal having lower ionization potential than the target metal, such as In, Li. For instance, the electron beam from an electron gun 3 is projected to the UIn3 in a crucible 1 so that a part of In is electrolytically dissociated to generate electrons. By this method, the ionization of U is suppressed so that neutral U, neutral In, and ion and electron of In mainly are allowed to exist in the vapor flow 4, which is irradiated by laser 5 to selectively excite and ionize U-235 due to the difference of absorption spectrum of U isotopes. Then, electric potential is impressed to an electrode plate 6 to collect the ions on the electrode plate 6.
NISHIMURA EIICHI
SUZUKI KAZUMICHI
