A spectroscopic method of determining the isotopic composition of magnesium

The composition is determined from the isotopic shift of the Mgl 880.68 nm line. The coefficient of variation for magnesium metal is 1.8%, but 4% for magnesium oxide. Several spectroscopic analyses can be performed in the time needed for one mass-spectrometer analysis, which reduces the error of analysis by a factor two or three.We are indebted to Professor A.N. Zaidel for valuable advice and to N. A. Novozhilova for assistance with the measurements.