Isotope Enrichment by Laser Stimulation Causing Condensation Repression

Sulfur isotopes in SF₆ molecules have been enriched, in a laboratory experiment, using tuned laser radiation to excite a particular sulfur isotopic molecule and inhibit its condensation on the cooled annulus inside of the chamber. The evidence of enrichment was determined by examining the residual gas with a Fourier Transform lnfra Red Spectrometer. The enrichment was observed during a transient experiment in which the temperature of the condensing surface was gradually decreased, and gas pressure of the SF₆ molecules was in the range of 8 Torr (0.01 atmospheres). These results show that excitation to a single excited level can create differential rates of condensation so as to achieve an enrichment factor of approximately 2.0 in a single stage.