A review of laser isotope separation of uranium hexafluoride

Abstract

There is continuing world-wide interest in the possibility of enriching uranium by a laser process which uses uranium hexafluoride. Since no actual commercial plant exists at present this review examines the key areas of related research. It concludes that such a process is feasible that it must employ an adiabatic cooling system with UF6 the minor constituent in a predominantly monatomic or diatomic carrier gas that the necessary infrared and/or ultraviolet-visible lasers are in a state of development bordering on the minimum required and that the economics of such a process appear highly promising.