Effects of degree of ionization on elements separation in rotating plasmas

Effects of differences in degree of ionization of the components of ternary rotating plasmas on their separation are investigated. When the plasma components are at the same level of ionization, separation effects are found to have the same form as in the case of neutral gas centrifuges. The separation is shown to persist even if the plasma comprises two species of the same mass at two different ionization states. Examples are given for situations of practical interest, and the role of ionization in enhancing and eliminating the separation effects is studied. (author)