Laser isotope separation
Abstract
A process and apparatus for separating isotopes by selective excitation of isotopic species of a volatile compound by tuned laser light is described. A highly cooled gas of the volatile compound is produced in which the isotopic shift is sharpened and defined. Before substantial condensation occurs, the cooled gas is irradiated with laser light precisely tuned to a desired wavelength to selectively excite a particular isotopic species in the cooled gas. The laser light may impart sufficient energy to the excited species to cause it to undergo photolysis, photochemical reaction or even to photoionize. Alternatively, a two-photon irradiation may be applied to the cooled gas to induce photolysis, photochemical reaction or photoionization. The process is particularly applicable to the separation of isotopes of uranium.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7138654
- Assignee:
- Energy Research and Development Administration
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION; URANIUM ISOTOPES; PHOTOCHEMISTRY; ACTINIDE ISOTOPES; CHEMISTRY; ISOTOPE SEPARATION; SEPARATION PROCESSES; 050503* - Nuclear Fuels- Uranium Enrichment- Laser Excitation- (-1989)
Citation Formats
Robinson, C P, Reed, J J, Cotter, T P, Boyer, K, and Greiner, N R. Laser isotope separation. United States: N. p., 1975.
Web.
Robinson, C P, Reed, J J, Cotter, T P, Boyer, K, & Greiner, N R. Laser isotope separation. United States.
Robinson, C P, Reed, J J, Cotter, T P, Boyer, K, and Greiner, N R. Wed .
"Laser isotope separation". United States.
@article{osti_7138654,
title = {Laser isotope separation},
author = {Robinson, C P and Reed, J J and Cotter, T P and Boyer, K and Greiner, N R},
abstractNote = {A process and apparatus for separating isotopes by selective excitation of isotopic species of a volatile compound by tuned laser light is described. A highly cooled gas of the volatile compound is produced in which the isotopic shift is sharpened and defined. Before substantial condensation occurs, the cooled gas is irradiated with laser light precisely tuned to a desired wavelength to selectively excite a particular isotopic species in the cooled gas. The laser light may impart sufficient energy to the excited species to cause it to undergo photolysis, photochemical reaction or even to photoionize. Alternatively, a two-photon irradiation may be applied to the cooled gas to induce photolysis, photochemical reaction or photoionization. The process is particularly applicable to the separation of isotopes of uranium.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1975},
month = {11}
}