Ion extraction from a cold plasma produced by laser multiphoton ionization has been enhanced by using radio-frequency (140 MHz) dielectric plasma heating. When 10 W in heating power is applied to a plasma of ion density around 3×1010 cm−3, it is observed that the peak ion flux extracted with an electrostatic voltage of 20 V increases by a factor of more than 2. The time for extracting all the ions becomes short by a factor of 3 without any production of radio-frequency discharged plasma. It is considered that these results are due to the increase in the electron temperature of the plasma. This method will be very useful for the process of ion extraction in atomic vapor laser isotope separation.

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