Calculations on isotope separation by laser induced photodissociation of polyatomic molecules. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6486661

Lamb, Jr, W E

This report describes research on the theory of isotope separation produced by the illumination of polyatomic molecules by intense infrared laser radiation. Newton's equations of motion were integrated for the atoms of the SF/sub 6/ molecule including the laser field interaction. The first year's work has been largely dedicated to obtaining a suitable interatomic potential valid for arbitrary configurations of the seven particles. This potential gives the correct symmetry of the molecule, the equilibrium configuration, the frequencies of the six distinct normal modes of oscillation and the correct (or assumed) value of the total potential energy of the molecule. Other conditions can easily be imposed in order to obtain a more refined potential energy function, for example, by making allowance for anharmonicity data. A suitable expression was also obtained for the interaction energy between a laser field and the polyatomic molecule. The electromagnetic field is treated classically, and it would be easily possible to treat the cases of time dependent pulses, frequency modulation and noise.

• Research Organization: Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6486661
• Report Number(s): COO-4294-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOCIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERATOMIC FORCES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
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LASER RADIATION
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
RADIATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR FLUORIDES