Patent ID: 6831271
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B01D,G01N,H01J

Abstract:
A method for enriching and/or identifying isotopes, comprising:a) providing at least one ionization source for providing ions including two isotopes of a same element; b) providing an analyzer region defined by a space between at least first and second spaced apart electrodes, said analyzer region being in communication with at least one of each of a gas inlet, a gas outlet, an ion inlet and an ion outlet, and introducing said ions into said analyzer region through said ion inlet; c) applying an asymmetric waveform voltage and a direct current compensation voltage to at least one of said electrodes; d) setting said asymmetric waveform voltage in order to effect a difference in net displacement between said isotopes in the time of one cycle of said applied asymmetric waveform voltage; e) varying said direct current compensation voltage to compensate for some of the displacement of said isotopes resulting from the applied asymmetric waveform voltage and measuring resulting transmitted ions at said ion outlet, so as to produce a compensation voltage scan for said transmitted ions; f) identifying peaks in said compensation voltage scan corresponding to said isotopes; and, g) setting said direct current compensation voltage to correspond to one of said peaks, so as to separate and enrich one of said two isotopes.