Photo-induced cataphoretic isotope separation. Final report, June 15, 1976-June 15, 1981

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6468945· OSTI ID:6468945

Carruthers, J A

The original studies were undertaken to study the feasibility of radiation-induced cataphoretic separation. This part of the work is concerned with laser-induced cataphoretic separation in neon using a He-Ne 6328A laser. The basic concept of radiation-induced caphoretic isotope separation is based on the preferential excitation of one isotope with the result that one isotope is more readily ionized, and relatively more of its ions move toward the cathode in the dc discharge. For the later part of the work a second radiation source was added, a helical Ne/sup 20/ radiation lamp. Radiation-induced cataphoretic isotope separation has not been observed. Selective excitation has been achieved by both the He-Ne/sup 20/ 6328A laser and the Ne/sup 20/ helical radiation lamp in spite of the fact that the isotope shift is comprable with Doppler-broadened linewidths. Collisional excitation exchange between the Ne/sup 20/ and Ne/sup 22/ atoms does not appear to be a problem for the neon partial pressure range involved. The population of the 3S/sub 2/ and 2p/sub 4/ laser levels (6328A) are apparently too low to offer reasonable expectation of inducing observable cataphoretic isotope separation by means of the 6328A laser radiation, even with the high detection sensitivity of the scanning Fabry-Perot spectrometer sytem. The use of the additional radiation source in the form of a helical Ne/sup 20/ radiation lamp has not improved the effectiveness of the laser 6328A laser. It has become clear from these experiments, however, that for isotope separation in neon it is well to concentrate on using radiation sources that interact mainly with the ls population.

• Research Organization: Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AS02-76ER02961
• OSTI ID: 6468945
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/02961-T1; COO-2961-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400203* -- Isotope Exchange & Isotope Separation-- (-1987)
DESIGN
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTROPHORESIS
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXCITED STATES
GAS DISCHARGE TUBES
GAS LASERS
HELIUM-NEON LASERS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPES
LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LASERS
LIGHT NUCLEI
NEON 20
NEON 22
NEON ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES