Isotope separation by standing waves
OwnerSaul Altshulerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The separation of isotopes is accomplished by scattering a beam of particles from a standing electromagnetic wave. The particles may consist of either atoms or molecules, each having a desired isotope and at least one other. The particle beam is directed in a normal direction against the standing wave, which may be a light wave. The particles; that is, the atomic or molecular quantum-mechanical waves, see basically a diffraction grating corresponding to the troughs and peaks of the electromagnetic wave. The frequency of the electromagnetic wave substantially corresponds to an internal energy level-transition of the desired isotope. Accordingly, the desired isotope is spatially separated by being scattered or diffracted.
Claims17
Apparatus for separating isotopes comprising:
- (a) means for generating a beam of particles having a desired and at least one other isotope;
- (b) means for collimating the beam of particles into a plurality of beamlets;
- (c) single means for generating a standing electromagnetic wave extending substantially at right angles to the path of the particles, said electromagnetic wave having a frequency substantially corresponding to an internal excitation level of the desired one of the isotopes, thereby to scatter particles of the desired isotope without substantially exciting the particles after scattering;
- and
- (d) means for collecting the particles including the desired isotope outside of the path of the collimated particles, the particles forming substantially spatially separated intensity peaks substantially in the plane defined by the particle beam and the electromagnetic wave.
The method of separating isotopes from each other comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a beam of particles including a desired and at least one other isotope;
- (b) collimating the beam of particles into a plurality of beamlets;
- (c) generating a standing electromagnetic wave by a single source and extending substantially normal to the path of the beam of particles, the wave having a frequency substantially corresponding to an internal excitation level of the desired one of the isotopes, thereby to scatter particles of the desired isotope without substantially exciting the particles after scattering and to spatially separate the desired isotopes from other isotopes into substantially separate intensity peaks substantially in the plane defined by the particle beam and the electromagnetic wave;
- and
- (d) collecting the scattered particles.
Apparatus for separating isotopes comprising:
- (a) means for generating a beam of molecular particles having a desired and at least one other isotope;
- (b) means for collimating the beam of molecular particles into a plurality of beamlets;
- (c) means for generating a standing electromagnetic wave extending substantially at right angles to the path of the particles, said electromagnetic wave having a frequency substantially corresponding to an internal excitation level of the desired one of the isotopes, the thickness of the electromagnetic wave being less than substantially .lambda..sub.1.sup.2 /.lambda..sub.2 .phi. where .lambda..sub.1 is the wavelength of said wave, .lambda..sub.2 is the wavelength of the molecular particles and .phi. is the phase shift of the molecular wave across a crest of said wave, thereby to scatter molecules of the desired isotope;
- and
- (d) means for collecting the molecules, including the desired isotope, outside of the path of the collimated particles.
The method of separating isotopes from each other comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a beam of molecular particles including a desired and at least one other isotope;
- (b) collimating the beam of particles into a plurality of beamlets;
- (c) generating a standing electromagnetic wave extending substantially normal to the path of the beam of particles, the wave having a frequency substantially corresponding to an internal excitation level of the desired one of the isotopes, the thickness of the electromagnetic wave being less than substantially .lambda..sub.1.sup.2 /.lambda..sub.2 .phi. where .lambda..sub.1 is the wavelength of said wave, .lambda..sub.2 is the wavelength of the molecular particles and .phi. is the phase shift of the molecular wave across a crest of said wave, thereby to scatter molecules of the desired isotope, and
- (d) collecting the scattered molecules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.