Centrifugal effects in a weakly ionized rotating gas

The author deals with a weakly ionized gas rotating under the influence of the Lorentz force in a cylindrical vessel. This force occurs if an electrical current flows across a magnetic field. The investigation concerns the possibility to bring a neutral gas into rotation by a relatively small number of charged particles (ions and electrons) on which the Lorentz force is acting. Also the possibility to use the centrifugal force, due to the rotation of the gas, for mass separation, is discussed. (Auth.)