Abstract: A counterfeit detecting method and apparatus are provided for detecting the authenticity of an article having a label containing an isotope of a chemical element. The apparatus comprises a housing, a source of gamma radiation positioned in the housing, and a gamma radiation detector positioned in the housing for detecting the radiation from the source. The gamma radiation source is selected to emit radiation which can stimulate a selected nuclear transition in the label material. A calculating device, such as a microprocessor is coupled to a detector for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by the detector during a predetermined period of time when the article is not in position near the receiving member (N.sub.O) to the number of the gamma rays counted by the detector during a period of time equal to the predetermined period when the article is positioned near the receiving means (N.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating plural isotopes of a chemical substance is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first magnetic field generating device for generating a uniform axial first magnetic field and a second magnetic field generating device such as a wiggler for generating a non-uniform, twisted, second magnetic field. An ion source provides a stream of ions of isotopes to be separated, the stream passing through the first and second magnetic fields. Ions of different charge-to-mass ratio will follow different trajectories or paths through the magnetic fields. A collector is positioned with respect to the second magnetic field generating device such that only the ions of isotopes to be collected strike the collector means and are collected thereon.

Abstract: A counterfeit detecting method and apparatus are provided for detecting the authenticity of an article having a label containing an isotope of a chemical element enriched to a predetermined amount. The apparatus comprises a housing, a source of gamma radiation positioned in the housing, and a gamma radiation detector positioned in the housing for detecting the radiation from the source. The gamma radiation source is selected to emit radiation which can stimulate a selected nuclear transition in the label material. A calculating device, such as a microprocessor, is coupled to a detector for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by the detector during a predetermined period of time when the article is not in position near the receiving member (N.sub.O) to the number of the gamma rays counted by the detector during a period of time equal to the predetermined period when the article is positioned near the receiving member (N.sub.