US4035638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Isotope separation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-28
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Granted: 1977-07-12
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Expires: 1995-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A process for the separation of one isotope from a mixture of isotopes and an apparatus for carrying out said process. The process comprises generating a beam of the atoms or molecules, introducing the beam into a laser cavity in such manner that the direction of the laser beam is substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the beam, irradiating the beam with a radiation adapted to being about the excitation only of the isotopic species to be separated, reflecting the laser beam back and forth between at least a pair of opposed sides of the laser cavity, such as between two mirrors opposite and parallel to each other which are located on these sides, for deflecting the desired isotopic species, and collecting said species.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham Szoke
- 👤 Isaiah Nebenzahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:11
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D59/00; B01D59/34; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/0007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A process for the separation of one isotopic species from a mixture of isotopes, which comprises the steps of generating a beam of the atoms or molecules, introducing said beam into a laser cavity for providing a direction of the laser beam substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of said atom beam, irradiating said atom beam with a sufficient radiation for bringing about the excitation of only the isotopic species to be separated, said radiation being by means of pulses of radiation, said laser being operated in a pulsed mode, reflecting said pulsed laser beam back and forth between at least a pair of opposed sides of said laser cavity for deflecting said isotopic species, and collecting said species.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for the separation of one isotopic species from a mixture of isotopes, which comprises the steps of generating a beam of the atoms or molecules, introducing said beam into a laser cavity for providing a direction of the laser beam substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of said atom beam, irradiating said atom beam with a sufficient radiation for bringing about the excitation of only the isotopic species to be separated, said radiation being by means of pulses of radiation, said laser being operated in a pulsed mode, reflecting said pulsed laser beam back and forth between at least a pair of opposed sides of said laser cavity for deflecting said isotopic species, and collecting said species.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam is one of uranium atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laser beam is passed through a plurality of narrow atomic or molecular beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam of the material to be separated is passed through one or more supersonic nozzles into the laser cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laser is operated in a chirped mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the chirping is about a predetermined frequency having a minimum and maximum value for exciting only said isotopic species.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the chirped pulse has an exponential rise time, a substantially constant level and an exponential decrease.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflecting step comprises providing a pair of opposed and parallel mirrors on said pair of opposed sides of said laser cavity for reflecting said laser beam back and forth therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 8 wherein said mirrors are at a distance from each other substantially larger than the length of a pulse of said laser beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pulse length is less than about one third of the distance between the opposed mirrors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reflecting step comprises the step of making said radiation pulses travel back and forth in said laser cavity for transferring a plurality of quanta of momentum to said atoms or molecules of said isotopic species by exciting the absorbing atoms or molecules when the pulses traverse the cavity in one direction and deexciting said absorbing atoms or molecules when the pulses traverse the cavity in the opposite direction, said plurality of quanta of momentum transferred atoms or molecules of said isotopic species being deflected out of said beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein said reflecting step further comprises providing a pair of opposed mirrors on said pair of opposed sides of said laser cavity for reflecting said laser beam back and forth therebetween, said mirrors being at a distance from each other substantially larger than the length of a pulse of said laser beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein said laser is operated in a chirped mode.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 words
A device for the separation of an isotopic species out of a mixture of isotopic species, comprising in combination a means for generating at least one narrow atomic or molecular beam, means for irradiating these beams by means of a controlled pulsed radiation of desired wave-length, means for reflecting said pulsed radiation back and forth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction motion of said beams and means for collecting the separated desired isotopic species.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
76 words
A device for the separation of an isotopic species out of a mixture of isotopic species, comprising in combination a means for generating at least one narrow atomic or molecular beam, means for irradiating these beams by means of a controlled pulsed radiation of desired wave-length, means for reflecting said pulsed radiation back and forth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction motion of said beams and means for collecting the separated desired isotopic species.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A device as claimed in claim 14 for the separation of desired isotopic species, wherein said generating means comprises means for introducing said beam into a laser cavity, said irradiating means comprises a pulsed laser beam, and said reflecting means comprises a pair of opposed and parallel mirrors located on a pair of opposed sides of said laser cavity for reflecting said pulsed laser beam back and forth, the distance between said opposed mirrors being at least three times the length of a pulse of said laser beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said irradiating means comprises a laser beam and means for chirping a pulse of said laser beam within a predetermined range of frequencies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one supersonic nozzle is provided for the generating of a suitable beam of the material to be separated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3558877A
Cited
US3772519A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |