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Separation of isotopes by laser-assisted retardation of condensation (SILARC)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2009

Jeff W. Eerkens
Affiliation:
CRISLA Research Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA

Abstract

Basic relations are presented to calculate isotope enrichment and depletion factors in a supercooled flow of gaseous QF6 molecules mixed with Ar (or another carrier gas) that is coaxially or cross-wise illuminated with a laser beam. Isotope-selective laser excitation of iQF6 molecules retards their condensation on walls and during cluster growth. This yields an isotope-enriched gas and isotope-depleted wall deposits under subsonic flow conditions and coaxial laser irradiation. Similarly, enriched QF6 gas and depleted particle clusters are formed in supercooled supersonic expansion flows that are coaxially or cross-wise irradiated. Measured isotope changes for 32SF6/34SF6 and 235UF6/238UF6 are shown to be in agreement with calculated values.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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