Some Problems Related with Ion Sources for Radioactive Isotopes

When processing stable elements in an E.M. Separator, the chief requirements for the source operation are steadiness, high resolution, high currents, in certain cases, and a long life of the cathode. Efficiency is very often a secondary requirement, at least for low scale production, even when the element or the compound is expensive. In the same way, the rapidity of the source operation is seldom important.