Two-photon laser isotope separation of atomic uranium: spectroscopic studies, excited-state lifetimes, and photoionization cross sections

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1976.1069111· OSTI ID:7361065

Janes, G S ^[1]; Itzkan, I; Pike, C T; Levy, R H; Levin, L

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1. Avco-Everett Research Lab., Everett, MA

Experimental studies are described wherein an atomic beam of uranium vapor produced by electron-beam evaporation is selectively excited and ionized by light from two short-pulse narrow-bandwidth, tuned dye lasers, and detected and analyzed by a mass spectrometer. The total number of ions per pulse produced is small; however, the time of production is known precisely. By counting single ions, using digital logic, and multiplexing the mass spectrometer between /sup 238/U and /sup 235/U, it is possible to measure isotope ratios as a function of exciter wavelength and to correct for background effects and spurious ions. These results demonstrated 50 percent enrichment of /sup 235/U//sup 238/U. Excited-state lifetimes were measured by observing yields as a function of the delay between the two laser pulses. In addition, for an excitation wavelength of 4266.325 A, the variation of two-step photoionization efficiency was measured as a function of the wavelength of the ionizing laser. The maximum yield at an ionizing wavelength of 3609 A corresponds to a cross section of 2 x 10/sup -17/ cm/sup 2/ for matched linewidths. Also the ionization potential of uranium was determined to be 6.187 +- 0.002 eV. 11 fig.

• OSTI ID: 7361065
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States) Vol. QE-12:2; ISSN IEJQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050503* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Uranium Enrichment-- Laser Excitation-- (-1989)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
CROSS SECTIONS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
IONIZATION
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LIFETIME
PHOTOIONIZATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
URANIUM ISOTOPES