The invention is an improved form of an ultracentrifuge used in the separation of gases, particularly those of high molecular weight. Through the introduction of an inner cylinder within the outer cylinder of a high speed centrifuge, a higher over-all flow profile efficiency is created. In addition, although a gain of lesser significance, the vacuum core present in ultra centrifuges, which does not contribute to the separative power of the centrifuge, is virtually eliminated. Moreover, for those gases in which the maximum pressure in the centrifuge is limited by a phase change, i.e. the maximum pressure in the centrifuge must be kept below the vapor pressure, the addition of the inner cylinder raises the pressure in the central core region by several orders of magnitude, which permits the subsequent reduction of pressure on the outer walls of both inner and outer cylinders without any portion of the centrifuge being in the Knudsen regime. With this reduction of pressure on the outer walls, the gas can then be centrifuged at a lower temperature, thus further increasing the productive capacity of such a device.