Wave Packet Isotope Separation

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.3518· OSTI ID:388408

Averbukh, I S ^[1]; Vrakking, M J; Villeneuve, D M; Stolow, A ^[2]

---

1. Department of Chemical Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100 (Israel)
2. Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0R6 (CANADA)

We introduce and demonstrate a general wave packet method for laser isotope separation. In this scheme, laser excited molecular (or atomic) wave packets of differing isotopes become {ital spatially} separated in the course of their long-time free evolution. In order to overcome the quantum spreading of wave packets, we make use of the phenomenon of revivals. We demonstrate experimentally, with mixed {sup 79}Br{sub 2}/{sup 81}Br{sub 2} isotopes, that significant control over the isotope ratio can be achieved in a single shot. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 388408
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 77; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ATOMS
BROMINE 79
BROMINE 81
EXCITED STATES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LASERS
MOLECULES
WAVE PACKETS