Diagram illustrating the basic principle behind electromagnetic isotopic separation, esp. in the case of uranium enrichment. Here the heavy isotope of uranium (U-238) is represented in light blue, while the lighter isotope of uranium (U-235) is represented in dark blue. When the beam of natural uranium (a mixture of mostly U-238 and some U-235) passes through a strong magnetic field (the two magnet poles are shown here) it curves around back towards the source. The resulting stream of uranium will have somewhat higher concentrations of U-235 on the outer end of it (the effect has been exaggerated here for conceptual simplicity).
Diagram illustrating the basic principle behind electromagnetic isotopic separation, esp. in the case of uranium enrichment. Here the heavy isotope of uranium (U-238) is represented in dark blue, while the lighter isotope of uranium (U-235) is represented