RESULTS AND PROSPECTS OF LASER SEPARATION OF OXYGEN ISOTOPES BY IR MULTIPHOTON DISSOCIATION OF MOLECULES

An experimental search was made for an initial oxygen compound suitabl e for laser separation of oxygen isotopes by IR multiphoton dissociati on of molecules. Over ten molecules with C - O, Si - O, Cr = O, and C = O bonds were investigated. The excitation was provided by pulsed TEA CO2 laser radiation, and also by its second harmonic. Measurements we re made of the dissociation yields of the molecular components contain ing O-18 and O-16 and of the isotopic selectivity as a function of the frequency and energy density (fluence) of laser radiation, pressure o f the gas being dissociated, etc. The suitability of the investigated compounds for practical laser separation of oxygen isotopes was analys ed.