Laser induced plasma production for isotope separation
OwnerFred R. Schwirzkeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a system for isotope enrichment, a method and apparatus for separating atoms of one isotope type from an environment containing plural isotope types. Tunable lasers or laser systems are used to selectively pump atoms of the desired isotope to a metastable excited state several eV above the isotope atom ground state. A reduced ionization energy is then supplied to atoms of the metastable isotopes taking advantage of the longer lifetimes achieved. The resulting plasma created by ionizing atoms of the isotope in the metastable state is subjected to electromagnetic fields to separate atoms of the desired isotope.
Claims17
The method of separating selected atoms which absorb radiation of one frequency from other atoms which absorb radiation of different frequencies comprising:
- (a) heating a mass of material containing both types of said atoms until a vapor of said material is formed;
- (b) irradiating said vapor with a laser source operating at said one frequency whereby said selected atoms are pumped into excited metastable states above the ground state of said selected atoms;
- (c) supplying a continuous source of thermal energy to said selected atoms in said excited metastable states forming an ionized plasma of said selected atoms;
- and
- (d) separating said ionized plasma from all said other atoms.
Apparatus for separating selected atoms which absorb radiation of one frequency from other atoms which absorb radiation of different frequencies comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) an oven having an outlet to said housing for heating a mass of material containing both types of said atoms until a vapor of said material is formed;
- (c) means for directing said vapor into said housing connected between said oven and said housing;
- (d) means for pumping said selected atoms in said vapor into excited metastable states above the ground state of said selected atoms;
- (e) means for continuously ionizing said selected atoms in said excited states by a continuous thermal energy source whereby an ionized plasma of said selected atoms is formed;
- and
- (f) means for separating said ionized plasma of said selected atoms from said other atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.