Calcium isotope enrichment by means of multi-channel counter-current electrophoresis for the study of particle and nuclear physics

We have developed a new method for enrichment of large amounts of calcium isotopes for the future study of Ca-48 double beta decay. The method is called multi-channel counter-current electrophoresis (MCCCE). We present the concept of MCCCE, in which the power density in the migration path is the key to efficient enrichment of a large amount of materials. In MCCCE, ions migrate in multi-channels on a boron nitride (BN) plate, allowing a substantial increase in the power density to be achieved. We made a tiny prototype instrument and obtained an enrichment factor of 3 for the ratio of the abundance of Ca-48 to Ca-43 over that of natural abundance. This corresponds to an enrichment factor of 6 for Ca-48 to Ca-40. This remarkably large enrichment factor demonstrates that MCCCE is a realistic and promising method for the enrichment of large amounts of ions. It can be applied to many other elements and compounds.