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Title: Atomic vapor laser isotope separation of lead-210 isotope

Abstract

An isotopically selective laser process and apparatus for removal of Pb-210 from natural lead that involves a one-photon near-resonant, two-photon resonant excitation of one or more Rydberg levels, followed by field ionization and then electrostatic extraction. The wavelength to the near-resonant intermediate state is counter propagated with respect to the second wavelength required to populate the final Rydberg state. This scheme takes advantage of the large first excited state cross section, and only modest laser fluences are required. The non-resonant process helps to avoid two problems: first, stimulated Raman Gain due to the nearby F=3/2 hyperfine component of Pb-207 and, second, direct absorption of the first transition process light by Pb-207.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. Tracy, CA
  2. Pleasanton, CA
  3. Diablo, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872489
Patent Number(s):
5945649
Assignee:
United States Enrichment Corp. (Bethesda, MD)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
atomic; vapor; laser; isotope; separation; lead-210; isotopically; selective; process; apparatus; removal; pb-210; natural; lead; involves; one-photon; near-resonant; two-photon; resonant; excitation; rydberg; levels; followed; field; ionization; electrostatic; extraction; wavelength; intermediate; counter; propagated; respect; required; populate; final; scheme; takes; advantage; excited; section; modest; fluences; non-resonant; helps; avoid; stimulated; raman; due; nearby; hyperfine; component; pb-207; direct; absorption; transition; light; stimulated raman; atomic vapor; vapor laser; isotope separation; laser isotope; takes advantage; isotopically selective; /204/

Citation Formats

Scheibner, Karl F, Haynam, Christopher A, Johnson, Michael A, and Worden, Earl F. Atomic vapor laser isotope separation of lead-210 isotope. United States: N. p., 1999. Web.
Scheibner, Karl F, Haynam, Christopher A, Johnson, Michael A, & Worden, Earl F. Atomic vapor laser isotope separation of lead-210 isotope. United States.
Scheibner, Karl F, Haynam, Christopher A, Johnson, Michael A, and Worden, Earl F. Fri . "Atomic vapor laser isotope separation of lead-210 isotope". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872489.
@article{osti_872489,
title = {Atomic vapor laser isotope separation of lead-210 isotope},
author = {Scheibner, Karl F and Haynam, Christopher A and Johnson, Michael A and Worden, Earl F},
abstractNote = {An isotopically selective laser process and apparatus for removal of Pb-210 from natural lead that involves a one-photon near-resonant, two-photon resonant excitation of one or more Rydberg levels, followed by field ionization and then electrostatic extraction. The wavelength to the near-resonant intermediate state is counter propagated with respect to the second wavelength required to populate the final Rydberg state. This scheme takes advantage of the large first excited state cross section, and only modest laser fluences are required. The non-resonant process helps to avoid two problems: first, stimulated Raman Gain due to the nearby F=3/2 hyperfine component of Pb-207 and, second, direct absorption of the first transition process light by Pb-207.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {1}
}