A METHOD OF SEPARATING THE ISOTOPES OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE BY MEANS OF LASER RADIATION

Abstract: A method of separating the isotopes of uranium hexafluoride by means of laser radiation. The radiation is produced by means of a CO₂-laser, in which the CO₂ gas consists essentially of CO₂ molecules in which one of the oxygen atoms is O¹⁶ and the other oxygen atom is O¹⁸. The beam from the CO₂-laser is shone onto a Raman cell incorporating parahydrogen as the Raman-active fluid, whereby the frequency of the beam is shifted. The beam is then used for the isotope-selective excitation of UF₆, whereafter the excited UF₆ is treated further in known manner to achieve separation of the isotopes.

Description: This invention relates to a method of separating the isotopes of uranium hexafluoride by means of laser radiation, which comprises shining the beam of a CO₂-laser onto a Raman cell, incorporating parahydrogen as the Ramanactive fluid, whereby the frequency of the beam is shifted, and then using the beam for the isotope-selective excitation of UF₆, whereafter the excited UF₆ is treated further in known manner to achieve separation of the isotopes. A method of this kind is generally known and is briefly described, for example, in the Digest of Technical Papers of the Conference on Lasers and Electro-optics, 9-13 June 1986 OSA/IEEE San Francisco, California, pp. 85-86 (paper TUI-2). As also explained in the above application, the isotopes to be separated are selectively excited by generating molecular vibrations in the 16 µm range. The excited molecules are more selective for dissociation to UF₅ by means of ultraviolet radiation. The UF₅ can be separated from the non-dissociated UF₆ in known manner. With the 16 µm radiation, UF₆ with the isotope U²³⁵ is, and with the isotope U²³⁸ is not excited. What is necessary is a source of 16 µm radiation that can be tuned in a narrow band. The source of radiation of 16 µm used is a CO₂ laser. This produces a great amount of radiation in the range between 9 and 11 µm. By passing the laser beam through a Raman cell using parahydrogen as the active medium, the frequency is shifted, and radiation in the range of 16 µm results. The production of the accurately determined wavelength in the range of 16 µm, required for excitation of UF₆, has hitherto required a complicated mechanism. Often, a CO₂-laser is used, in which it is necessary for the laser medium to be maintained at a high pressure (in the order of 580 kPa) to produce the desired wavelength. The above article, too, refers to a high-pressure laser. In addition, and simultaneously therewith, parametric mixing of four waves is used. The principle of four-wave parametric mixing is known, for example, from IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, VOL QE-13, 1977, No. 10, pp. 871-875. The use of a laser in which a high pressure must be maintained is undesirable from the point of view of generating energy quanta of sufficiently high repetition frequency, and also in view of the manageability of the system, in particular where the laser medium must be circulated. It is an object of the present invention to improve the prior method to the extent that the radiation in the range of 16 µm, required for separating the isotopes of uranium hexafluoride is obtained in a simple and well-controlled manner, in which a considerably higher repetition frequency of no less than 1 kHz can be achieved, and four-wave parametric mixing can be done without, as the required energy can now be obtained in a single step. The above objects are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by a method using a CO₂ laser in which a preponderant portion of the laser medium is ¹²C¹⁶0¹⁸O. It has been found that the method according to the present invention, using a CO₂-laser filled with highly specific CO₂, in the manner described, very good isotope separation can be realised without requiring complicated mechanisms with regard to the CO₂-laser. In particular, it is no longer necessary to maintain very high pressures of the CO₂ in the laser, while yet the desired 16 µm radiation is produced. Preferably, indeed, in the method according to the invention a CO₂-laser is used in which the CO₂ in the laser is maintained at a pressure of no more than 98 kPa. According to the present invention, a CO₂-laser is used in which ¹²C¹⁶0¹⁸O is a preponderant portion of the laser medium. The radiation used in particular is the R (24) rotation transition of the (001)-(I) vibration band. The frequency of this radiation is shifted using a Raman cell, filled with parahydrogen, which is cooled with liquid nitrogen, using the Raman transition between the rotation levels J=0 to J=2. The frequency thus obtained can be accurately tuned in a simple manner by known optical means to radiation having the desired wavelength in the range of 16 µm at the CO₂ pressure in a pressure range to a maximum of 38 kPa.

Claims: A method of separating the isotopes of uranium hexafloride by means of a laser radiation, which comprises shining the beam of a CO₂-laser onto a Raman cell incorporating parahydrogen as the Raman-active fluid, whereby the frequency of the beam is shifted, and then using the beam for the isotope-selective excitation of UF₆, whereafter the excited UF₆ is treated further in known manner to achieve separation of the isotopes, characterized by using a CO₂-laser in which a preponderant portion of the laser medium is ¹²C¹⁶0¹⁸O. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the CO₂ in the laser is maintained at a pressure of no more than 98 kPa.

Inventors: ERNST, GERARDUS JOANNES, WITTEMAN, WILHELMUS JACOBUS
Applicants: ULTRA-CENTRIFUGE NEDERLAND N.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B01D59
IPC codes: B01D59