Patent US2875995A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4031397A
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Method and apparatus for separating isotopes
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1975-08-25
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1995-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for separating isotopes from gaseous mixtures by forming a seeded molecular beam comprising a carrier gas and the isotopes, exposing the seeded beam to a laser light having a particular radiation frequency to accentuate differences in the velocity profiles of the isotopes in the beam and separating the isotopes based upon the differences in their velocity profiles. The frequency of the laser is such as to excite only one of the isotopes, e.g. the lighter one, so that it possesses a larger amount of rotational energy without exciting the other isotope(s).
Inventors
- 👤 Mark J. Cardillo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:25
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D59/00; B01D59/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A process for separating isotopes from a gaseous mixture thereof which comprises expanding said mixture to form a molecular beam of the mixture in a carrier gas, the molecules of the carrier gas having a mass either less than or greater than the mass of all the molecules containing the isotopes, exposing the gaseous mixture to a laser light having a radiation frequency that causes excitation of the rotational energy of the isotope molecules having the lowest mass without exciting the rotational energy of the other isotope molecules in said mixture, passing said molecular beam through a means for separating the mixture of isotopes on the basis of differences in velocity profiles of each of the isotopes, controlling the time period between the initial expansion of the gas and subsequent separation of the molecular beam to permit conversion of at least a portion of laser-induced rotational energy to translational energy by secondary collision of the excited isotope molecules with molecules of said carrier gas but without substantially complete conversion of said induced rotational energy to translational energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A process for separating isotopes from a gaseous mixture thereof which comprises expanding said mixture to form a molecular beam of the mixture in a carrier gas, the molecules of the carrier gas having a mass either less than or greater than the mass of all the molecules containing the isotopes, exposing the gaseous mixture to a laser light having a radiation frequency that causes excitation of the rotational energy of the isotope molecules having the lowest mass without exciting the rotational energy of the other isotope molecules in said mixture, passing said molecular beam through a means for separating the mixture of isotopes on the basis of differences in velocity profiles of each of the isotopes, controlling the time period between the initial expansion of the gas and subsequent separation of the molecular beam to permit conversion of at least a portion of laser-induced rotational energy to translational energy by secondary collision of the excited isotope molecules with molecules of said carrier gas but without substantially complete conversion of said induced rotational energy to translational energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 1 which includes the further step of providing the means for segregating the molecular beam from the remaining portion of the emitted gas prior to contacting the molecular beam with the means for separating the isotopes based upon the difference in velocity profiles of said isotopes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the isotopes comprise a gaseous mixture of compounds of uranium-238 and uranium-235.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the isotopes comprise a gaseous mixture of compounds of uranium-238 and uranium-235.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for separating isotopes from a gaseous mixture thereof comprising means for expanding the mixture to form a molecular beam of said isotopes in a carrier gas, means for exposing said beam to a laser light having a radiation frequency that causes excitation of the rotational energy of the isotope molecule having the lowest mass without exciting the rotational energy of the other isotope molecules in said mixture and means for separating the mixture of isotopes on the basis of differences in velocity profiles of each of the isotopes, locating said means for separating the mixture a distance from the means for forming the molecular beam thereby to control the time period between expansion and separation to permit at least a portion of the laser-induced rotational energy to be converted to translational energy by secondary collision of the excited isotope molecules with molecules of said carrier gas but without substantially complete conversion of said induced rotational energy to translational energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for separating isotopes from a gaseous mixture thereof comprising means for expanding the mixture to form a molecular beam of said isotopes in a carrier gas, means for exposing said beam to a laser light having a radiation frequency that causes excitation of the rotational energy of the isotope molecule having the lowest mass without exciting the rotational energy of the other isotope molecules in said mixture and means for separating the mixture of isotopes on the basis of differences in velocity profiles of each of the isotopes, locating said means for separating the mixture a distance from the means for forming the molecular beam thereby to control the time period between expansion and separation to permit at least a portion of the laser-induced rotational energy to be converted to translational energy by secondary collision of the excited isotope molecules with molecules of said carrier gas but without substantially complete conversion of said induced rotational energy to translational energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 5 which includes a means for separating the molecular beam from at least a portion of the gaseous mixture not forming the molecular beam and being positioned between the means for forming the molecular beam and the means for separating the isotopes on the basis of differences in the velocity profile of the isotope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for separating the isotopes comprises a velocity selector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for separating the isotopes comprises a velocity selector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1284620A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |