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US 6,586,696 B1Granted
Method for laser induced isotope enrichment
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsPeter P. Pronko, Paul A. Vanrompay, John Nees, Zhiyu Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides new methods for separating isotopes of an element and causing enrichment of a desired isotope of an element utilizing laser ablation plasmas to modify or fabricate a material containing such isotopes. This invention may be used for a wide variety of materials which contain elements having different isotopes.
Claims8
A method for separating isotopes of an element comprising:
- a) directing a laser beam onto a surface of a target at an intensity and wavelength sufficient to generate plasma comprising ionized isotopic species and to generate an internal electromagnetic scattering field within said plasma causing spatial separation of said ionized isotopic species;
- and
- b) depositing said spatially separated ionized isotopic species on a substrate, whereby a deposit is formed having a first region which is relatively rich in a selected isotopic species and a second region which is relatively lean in said selected isotopic species.
A method for separating isotopes of an element comprising:
- a) directing a laser beam onto a surface of a target having a first isotopic distribution, at an intensity and wavelength sufficient to generate a plasma comprising ionized isotopic species, and to generate an internal electromagnetic scattering field within said plasma, causing spatial separation of said ionized isotopic species;
- and
- b) depositing said spatially separated ionized isotopic species on a substrate whereby a deposit is formed having a region with a second isotopic distribution different from said first isotopic distribution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.