ISOTOPE SEPARATION PROCESS

摘要

U.S. 14,107 This invention relates to a process for the separation of isotopes of an element, preferably uranium, utilizing certain uranyl compounds having the formula (U02AA')n wherein A and A' are monovalent anions and n is a number from 2 to 40 With reference to the drawing, which schematically represents an apparatus in which the process may be conducted, the uranyl compound is vaporized in a heated oven (1) to produce a molecular beam (8) which is irradiated by a CW CO2 laser beam (5). Molecules containing one of the isotopes absorb radiation from the laser beam (5) preferentially over molecules of the other isotope and undergo unimolecular dissociation. The dissociation fragments to which sufficient random translational energy is imparted leave the molecular beam (8) and are collected by cooled cylindrical collector (11).