Isotope separation by laser excitation of unimolecular reactants

摘要

A laser isotope separation process is disclosed which comprises selectively exciting to a high vibrational state of the ground electronic state a polyatomic molecule of a gaseous composition which contains a particular isotope of an element bound to hydrogen. The excited molecule undergoes a unimolecular reaction to yield a product which is enriched in the particular isotope. The product may then be conveniently separated from the starting gaseous composition by conventional means and used in scientific research, medicine, agriculture, or power generation.