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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Laser isotope separation by multiple photon absorption

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4018938
Multiple photon absorption from an intense beam of infrared laser light may be used to induce selective chemical reactions in molecular species which result in isotope separation or enrichment. The molecular species must have a sufficient density of vibrational states in its vibrational manifold that, in the presence of sufficiently intense infrared laser light tuned to selectively excite only those molecules containing a particular isotope, multiple photon absorption can occur. By this technique, for example, intense CO$sub 2$ laser light may be used to highly enrich $sup 34$S in natural SF$sub 6$ and $sup 11$B in natural BCl$sub 3$. (auth)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-33-026100
Assignee:
to U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration
Patent Number(s):
None
OSTI ID:
4018938
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English