Photochemical isotope separation
Abstract
A process for separating isotopes by selective excitation of isotopic species of a volatile compound by tuned laser light. 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 photochemical reaction or even to photoionize. Alternatively, a two-photon irradiation may be applied to the cooled gas to induce photochemical reaction or photoionization. The process is particularly applicable to the separation of isotopes of uranium and plutonium.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866235
- Patent Number(s):
- 4661221
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- photochemical; isotope; separation; process; separating; isotopes; selective; excitation; isotopic; species; volatile; compound; tuned; laser; light; highly; cooled; gas; produced; shift; sharpened; defined; substantial; condensation; occurs; irradiated; precisely; desired; wavelength; selectively; excite; particular; impart; sufficient; energy; excited; undergo; reaction; photoionize; alternatively; two-photon; irradiation; applied; induce; photoionization; particularly; applicable; uranium; plutonium; volatile compound; selective excitation; excited species; desired wavelength; sufficient energy; cooled gas; particularly applicable; laser light; chemical reaction; isotope separation; photochemical reaction; isotopic species; selectively excite; separating isotopes; two-photon irradiation; substantial condensation; tuned laser; precisely tuned; isotopic shift; particular isotopic; light precisely; condensation occurs; highly cooled; impart sufficient; photochemical isotope; desired wave; /204/423/
Citation Formats
Robinson, C Paul, Jensen, Reed J, Cotter, Theodore P, Greiner, Norman R, and Boyer, Keith. Photochemical isotope separation. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
Robinson, C Paul, Jensen, Reed J, Cotter, Theodore P, Greiner, Norman R, & Boyer, Keith. Photochemical isotope separation. United States.
Robinson, C Paul, Jensen, Reed J, Cotter, Theodore P, Greiner, Norman R, and Boyer, Keith. Thu .
"Photochemical isotope separation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866235.
@article{osti_866235,
title = {Photochemical isotope separation},
author = {Robinson, C Paul and Jensen, Reed J and Cotter, Theodore P and Greiner, Norman R and Boyer, Keith},
abstractNote = {A process for separating isotopes by selective excitation of isotopic species of a volatile compound by tuned laser light. 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 photochemical reaction or even to photoionize. Alternatively, a two-photon irradiation may be applied to the cooled gas to induce photochemical reaction or photoionization. The process is particularly applicable to the separation of isotopes of uranium and plutonium.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {1}
}
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