LASER ATOMIC VAPOR GENERATION FOR EFFICIENT LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION

在原子激光同位素分离过程中，原子蒸汽是通过加热金属而产生的。然后，蒸汽被几个激光照射，其中一个同位素成分被选择性地激发和电离，然后收集同位素浓缩的离子。在这里，原子不仅可以在基态中布居，而且在高温下也可以在低位亚稳态中布居。这对于高效的激光同位素分离过程是不可取的。我们研究了在空气和真空中激光产生的B、Gd和Zr的蒸气的特性。我们观测了激光在空气中产生的等离子体的时间分辨发射光谱。在可见光区观察到被激发的BO分子的发射。这表明了测量硼同位素丰度的可能性。在真空锆实验中，测量了激光诱导荧光对原子温度的估计，在本实验条件下，原子温度估计为2000K-2500K。必须做出进一步努力，使激光有效地分离同位素，以实现足够的冷却。

In an atomic laser isotope separation process the atomic vapor is generated by heating the metal. Then the vapor is irradiated by several lasers, where one of the isotopic components is selectively excited and ionized and then isotopically enriched ions are collected. Here the atoms can populate not only in the ground state but also in the low-lying metastable states at a high temperature. This is not desirable for efficient laser isotope separation process.We investigated the characteristics of a laser-produced vapor of B,Gd and Zr in the air and in the vacuum. We observed the time-resolved emission spectra of the laser produced plasma in the air. Emission from the excited BO molecules was observed in the visible region. This suggested the possibiliy of the measurement of boron isotopic abundances. In the Zr experiment in the vacuum laser-induced fluorescence was measured for estimation of atomic temperature, which was estimated to be 2000K-2500K in this experimental condition. Further efforts have to be made for sufficient cooling for efficient laser isotope separation.