Patent Number: 06326627&
Section: claims

1. A device for separating ions which comprises: an elongated chamber defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end;  a central electrode positioned in said chamber and oriented along said axis, said electrode including a first element and a second element;  a means for generating an axially oriented magnetic field, B, in said chamber, said magnetic field having a substantially full magnetic mirror centered on said axis and perpendicular thereto at said first end of said chamber, and a substantially annular-shaped magnetic mirror centered on said axis and perpendicular thereto at said second end of said chamber; and  a means for generating a radially oriented electric field, E, in said chamber to create ions of said first and second elements as said first and second elements are sputtered from said central electrode, said electric field being configured to confine ions of said first element for exit from said chamber through said annular-shaped magnetic mirror, and to direct ions of said second element into contact with said central electrode for sputtering thereof.  a vacuum chamber for containing neutral atoms of a first element having a relatively light mass, m.sub.1, and neutral atoms of a second element having a relatively heavy mass, m.sub.2, said chamber having a first end and a second end;  an electric means, including a rod-shaped electrode positioned in said chamber for creating ions of said neutral atoms, said electric means generating an electric field, E, configured to force ions of said second element into collision with said electrode to sputter additional neutral atoms therefrom and to confine ions of said first element in said chamber for subsequent removal from said chamber; and  a magnetic means for generating a magnetic field, B, to direct ions of said first element for exit from said chamber through said second end.  containing neutral atoms of a first element having a relatively light mass, m.sub.1, and neutral atoms of a second element having a relatively heavy mass, m.sub.2, in a vacuum chamber defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end;  positioning a central electrode in said chamber, said central electrode being oriented along said axis, and said electrode including a first element and a second element;  generating an axially oriented magnetic field, B, in said chamber, said magnetic field having a substantially full magnetic mirror centered on said axis and perpendicular thereto at said first end of said chamber, and a substantially annular-shaped magnetic mirror centered on said axis and perpendicular thereto at said second end of said chamber; and  generating a radially oriented electric field, E, in said chamber to create ions of said first and second elements as said first and second elements are sputtered from said central electrode, said electric field being configured to confine ions of said first element for exit from said chamber through said annular-shaped magnetic mirror, and to direct ions of said second element into contact with said central electrode for sputtering thereof.  pre-filling said chamber with a gas; and  interacting said electric field with said gas to generate a plasma discharge in said chamber to initiate a sputtering of said central electrode. 2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first elements have a relatively light mass, m.sub.1, and said second elements have a relatively heavy mass, m.sub.2. 3. A device as recited in claim 2 wherein said electric filed, E, is configured with a critical electric potential U(r)=e.sup.2 B.sup.2 (r.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /8a.sup.2 m=U.sub.o (r.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /(b.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2, where U.sub.o =e.sup.2 B.sup.2 (b.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /8a.sup.2 m, "e" is the ion charge, "r" is a radical distance from the axis, "a" is the diameter of a cylindrical shaped said central electrode, "b" is the diameter of said elongated chamber, and "m" is the mass of an ion. 4. A device as recited in claim 2 wherein said first element is a light metal and said second element is an impurity. 5. A device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a means for pre-filling said chamber with a gas, said electric field generating means interacting with said gas to generate a plasma discharge in said chamber for initiating a sputtering of said central electrode. 6. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said electric field, E, has a magnitude for accelerating ions in said chamber to an energy in the range of one to three thousand electron volts (1-3 KeV). 7. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said electric field, E, is directed radially toward said axis. 8. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for generating said axially oriented magnetic field, B, is a plurality of magnetic coils mounted on said chamber. 9. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for generating said radially oriented electric field, E, is a first plurality of cylindrical shaped electrodes positioned at said first end of said chamber, and a second plurality of cylindrical shaped electrodes positioned at said second end of said chamber. 10. A device for separating ions which comprises: 11. A device as recited in claim 10 wherein said chamber is elongated and defines a longitudinal axis extending between said first end and said second end, and wherein said rod-shaped electrode is oriented along said axis. 12. A device as recited in claim 11 wherein said magnetic field has a substantially full magnetic mirror centered on said axis and perpendicular thereto at said first end of said chamber, and a substantially annular-shaped magnetic mirror centered on said axis and perpendicular thereto at said second end of said chamber, said annular-shaped magnetic mirror having an opening positioned on said axis for exit of ions from said chamber therethrough. 13. A device as recited in claim 11 wherein said electric filed, E, is directed radially toward said axis and is configured with a critical electric potential U(r)=e.sup.2 B.sup.2 (r.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /8a.sup.2 m=U.sub.o (r.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /(b.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2, where U.sub.o =e.sup.2 B.sup.2 (b.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /8a.sup.2 m, "e" is the ion charge, "r" is a radial distance from the axis, "a" is the diameter of a cylindrical shaped said central electrode, "b" is the diameter of said elongated chamber, and "m" is the mass of an ion. 14. A device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a means for pre-filling said chamber with a gas having neutral atoms therein, said electric field, E, interacting with said neutral atoms of said gas to generate a plasma discharge in said chamber for initiating a sputtering of said central electrode. 15. A device as recited in claim 10 wherein said electric field, E, has a magnitude for accelerating ions in said chamber to an energy in the range of one to three thousand electron volts (1-3 KeV). 16. A device as recited in claim 10 wherein said magnetic means includes a plurality of magnetic coils mounted on said chamber for generating an axially oriented said magnetic field, B. 17. A device as recited in claim 10 wherein said electric means includes a first plurality of cylindrical shaped electrodes positioned at said first end of said chamber, and a second plurality of cylindrical shaped electrodes positioned at said second end of said chamber for generating a radially oriented said electric field, E. 18. A method for separating ions which comprises the steps of: 19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said electric filed, E, is directed radially toward said axis and is configured with a critical electric potential U(r)=e.sup.2 B.sup.2 (r.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /8a.sup.2 m=U.sub.o (r.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /(b.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2, where U.sub.o =e.sup.2 B.sup.2 (b.sup.2 -a.sup.2).sup.2 /8a.sup.2 m, "e" is the ion charge, "r" is a radial distance from the axis, "a" is the diameter of a cylindrical shaped said central electrode, "b" is the diameter of said elongated chamber, and "m" is the mass of an ion. 20. A method as recited in claim 18 further comprising the steps of: