Isotope separation process
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsAndrew Kaldor, Paul Rabinowitz
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Abstract
This application discloses a method of separating the isotopes of an element which form a volatile compound having an isotopically shifted but overlapping infrared absorption spectrum. In the method, IR radiation of first and second laser frequencies are employed. The first infrared laser frequency produces a selective excitation of the desired isotope of the compound, while the second infrared laser frequency produces a higher multiphoton excitation which allows conversion of the excited compound.
Claims2
A method of separating the isotopes of an element which forms a volatile compound having an isotopically shifted but overlapping infrared absorption spectrum;
- the method including the steps of:
- (a) irradiating said volatile compound with a first infrared radiation of low power which is preferentially absorbed by a molecular vibration of molecules of said compound containing a predetermined isotope of said element thereby providing excited molecules of said compound enriched in said molecules of said compound containing said predetermined isotope of said element;
- (b) irradiating said volatile compound with a second infrared radiation of high power which is not substantially absorbed by said molecular vibration of said molecule at an intensity sufficient to further excite said excited molecules to undergo a conversion said second infrared radiation being shifted in frequency from the frequency of the first radiation so as not to cause power broadening of the preferential absorption transition;
- and
- (c) separating the converted molecules from the unconverted molecules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.