laserrikastus

Laser enrichment, or laser isotope separation, is a process used to separate isotopes of a specific element. This method typically employs lasers to selectively excite or ionize atoms of a particular isotope. Once ionized, these atoms can be separated from other isotopes using electromagnetic fields. The selectivity of the laser is crucial, as it must be tuned to the precise energy levels of the desired isotope, which are often very close to those of other isotopes of the same element. This high degree of selectivity is what makes laser enrichment a powerful technique.

The primary application of laser enrichment has been in the separation of uranium isotopes, specifically enriching uranium-235 for use in nuclear reactors and weapons. However, the technology has also been explored for the separation of other isotopes, such as those of plutonium, tritium, and even certain stable isotopes for research purposes. The process can be more energy-efficient and produce higher purity isotopes compared to traditional methods like gaseous diffusion.

Two main laser isotope separation techniques are commonly discussed: Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) and Molecular Laser Isotope Separation (MLIS). AVLIS involves vaporizing the element and then using lasers to ionize the desired isotope in the vapor. MLIS uses lasers to selectively excite or dissociate molecules containing the desired isotope. While promising, the industrial-scale implementation of laser enrichment has faced economic and technical challenges, particularly in comparison to established methods.