Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Laser isotope separation

Nature volume 277, pages 605–610 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

It is about 10 years since new methods of isotope separation by means of laser radiation were first proposed. In the past five years a lot of effort has been put into elaborating and realising these techniques. Now we are at the threshold of demonstrating the first pilot set-ups of laser isotope separation (LIS). In this review I will try to outline the basic ideas, methods and key experiments.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Letokhov, V. S. & Moore, C. B. Kvantovaya Elektronika 3, 248–287, 485–516 (1976) (Soviet J. Quantum Electron. 6, 129–150, 259–276 (1976)).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Aldridge, J. P. III, Birely, J. H., Cantrell, C. D. & Cartwright, D. C. in Laser Photochemistry, Tunable Lasers, and Other Topics (eds Jacobs S. F., Sargent, III, M, Scully, M. O. & Walker, C. T.) Vol. 4, 57–144 (Addison-Wesley, Reading 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Letokhov, V. S. & Moore, C. B. in Chemical and Biochemical Applications of Lasers (ed. Moore, C. B.) Vol. 3, 1–165 (AcademiC, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ambartzumian, R. V. & Letokhov, V. S. in Chemical and Biochemical Applications of Lasers (ed. Moore, C. B.) Vol. 3, 166–316 (Academic, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cantrell, C. D., Freund, S. M. & Lyman, J. L. in Laser Handbook, Vol. 3 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Merton, T. R. & Hartley, H. Nature 105, 2630 (1920).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hartley, H., Ponder, A. O., Bowen, E. J. & Merton, T. R. Phil. Mag. 43, 430 (1922).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kuhn, H. G. Atomic Spectra, ch. 6 (Academic, New York, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sobel'man, I. I. An Introduction to the Theory of Atomic Spectra, ch. 6 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Herzberg, G. Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure, 2nd edn, Vol. 1 (Van Nostrand, New York, 1950).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Herzberg, G. Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure, 1st edn, Vol. 2 (Van Nostrand, New York, 1945).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Herzberg, G. Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure, 1st edn, vol. 3 (Van Nostrand, New York, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Brinkman, U., Hartig, W., Telle, H. & Walther, H. Appl. Phys. 5, 109–115 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hagens, O. & Henkes, W. Z. Naturf. A 15, 851–865 (1960).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kataev, D. T. & Mal'tzev, A. A. Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 64, 1527–33 (1973) (Sov. Phys. JETP, 37, 772–76 (1973)).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Levy, D., Wharton, L. & Smalley, R. E. in Chemical and Biochemical Applications of Lasers, (ed. Moore, C. B.) Vol. 2, 1–42 (Academic, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Hochstrasser, R. M. & King, D. S. J. Am. chem. Soc. 97, 4760–62 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kuhn, W. & Martin, H. Naturwissenschaften 20, 772 (1932).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kuhn, W. & Martin, H. Z. phys. Chem. B 21, 93–137 (1933).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zuber, K. Nature 136, 796 (1935); Helv. phys. Acta 8, 487 (1935).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zuber, K. Helv. phys. Acta, 9, 285 (1936).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Billings, B. H., Hitchcock, W. J. & Zelikoff, M. J. Chem. Phys. 21, 1762–66 (1953).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Pertel, R. & Gunning, H. E. Can. J. Chem. 37, 35–42 (1959).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gunning, H. E. & Strausz, O. P. Adv. Photochem. 1, 209 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Letokhov, V. S., Soviet Patent N 65743 (1970).

  26. Ambartzumian, R. V., Kalinin, V. P. & Letokhov, V. S. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 13, 305–08 (1971) (Soviet Phys. JETP Lett. 13, 217–19 (1971)).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ambartzumian, R. V. & Letokhov, V. S. Appl. Optics 11, 354–58 (1970).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Letokhov, V. S., Soviet Patent N 65744 (1970).

  29. Ambartzumian, R. V., Letokhov, V. S., Markarov, G. N., Puretzkii, A. A. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 15, 709–11 (1972); 17, 91–94 (1973) (Soviet Phys. JETP Lett. 15, 501–3 (1972); 17, 63–65 (1973)).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Yeung, E. S. & Moore, C. B. Appl. phys. Lett. 21, 109–10 (1972).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Letokhov, V. S. Chem. phys. Lett. 15, 221–22 (1972).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Brauman, J. L., O'Leary, T. J. & Schawlow, A. L. Opt. Commun. 12, 223–24 (1974).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bernhardt, A., Duerre, D., Simpson, J. & Wood, L. Appl. phys. Lett. 25, 617–19 (1974).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Levy, R. & Janes, G. S. US Patent, N 3 772 519 (1973).

  35. Ivanov, L. N. & Letokhov, V. S. Kvantovaya Elektron. 2, 585–90 (1975) (Soviet J. Quantum Electron. 4, 1391–95 (1975)).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Nebenzahl, I. & Levin, M. FRG Patent N 2 312 194 (1973).

  37. Letokhov, V. S., Mishin, V. I., Puretsky, A. A. Progr. Quantum Electron. 5, part 3, 139–204 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Tuccio, S. A., Dubrin, J. W., Peterson, O. G. & Suavely, B. B. IEEE. J. Quantum Electron., QE-10, 790 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Tuccio, S. A., Foley, R. J., Dubrin, J. W. & Krikorian, O. IEEE J. Quantum Electron., QE-11, 101D (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Stern, R. C., Snavely, B. B. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 267, 71–80 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Janes, G. S., Itzkan, I., Pike, C. T., Levy, R. H., Levin, L. IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-11, 101D (1975); QE-12, 111 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  42. Janes, G. S., Forsen, K. H. & Levy, R. H. Res. Rep. N442 (Avco Everett Res. Lab., 1977); AI ChE, Symp. Ser. 73, 62–68 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Krass, A. S. Science 196, 721–731 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Bekov, G. I., Letokhov, V. S., Mishin, V. I. Opt. Commun. 23, 85 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Karlov, N. V. et al. Opt. Commun. 31, 384 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Ambartzumian, R. V., Bekov, G. I., Letokhov, V. S. & Mishin, V. I. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 21, 598 (1975) (Soviet. Phys. JETP Lett. 21, 279, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Bekov, G. I., Letokhov, V. S., Mishin, V. I. Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 73, 157 (1977).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Ducas, T. W., Littman, M. C., Freeman, R. R. & Kleppner, D. Phys. Rev. Lett. 35, 366 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Littman, M. C., Zimmerman, M. L. & Kleppner, D. Phys. Rev. Lett. 37, 486 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Paisner, J. A., Solarz, R. W., Worden, E. F. & Conway, J. G. in Laser Spectroscopy III (eds Hall, J. L. & Carlsten, J. L.) Vol. 7, 160 (Springer, Berlin, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  51. Bekov, G. I., Letokhov, V. S., Matveev, O. I. & Mishin, V. I. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 28, 308 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Ambartzumian, R. V., Letokhov, V. S., Makarov, G. N. & Puretzkii, A. A. in Laser Spectroscopy (eds Brewer, R. G. & Mooradian, A.) 611 (Plenum, New York, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  53. Rockwood, S., Rabideau, S. W. IEEE. J. Quantum Electron. QE-10, 789 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Knyazev, I. N., Kudriavtzev, Yu. A., Kuz'mina, N. P., Letokhov, V. S. & Sarkisian, A. A. Appl. Phys. 17, 427 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Ambartzumian, R. V., Letokhov, V. S., Ryabov, E. A. & Chekalin, N. V. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 20, 597 (1974) (Soviet. Phys. JETP Lett. 20, 273 (1974)).

    Google Scholar 

  56. Ambartzumian, R. V., Gorokhov, Yu. A., Letokhov, V. S. & Makarov, G. N. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 21, 375 (1975) (Soviet Phys. JETP Lett. 21, 375 (1975)).

    Google Scholar 

  57. Isenor, N. R. & Richardson, M. C. Appl. phys. Lett. 18, 224 (1971).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Letokhov, V. S., Ryabov, E. A., Tumanov, O. A. Opt. Commun. 5, 168 (1972); Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 63, 2025 (1972) (Soviet Phys. JETP Lett, 36, 1069 (1972).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Lyman, J. L. & Jensen, R. J. Chem. phys. Lett. 13, 431 (1972).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. Isenor, N. R., Merchant, V., Hallsworth, R. S. & Richardson, M. C. Can. J. Phys. 51, 1281 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Ambartzumian, R. V., Chekalin, N. V., Doljikov, V. S., Letokhov, V. S. & Ryabov, E. A. Chem. phys. Lett. 25, 515 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. Ambartzumian, R. V. et al. Kvantovaya Elektron. 2, 2197 (1975).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  63. Lyman, J. L. & Rockwood, S. D. J. appl. Phys. 47, 595 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Lyman, J. L., Jensen, R. J., Rink, J. P., Robinson, C. P. & Rockwood, S. D. Appl. phys. Lett. 27, 87 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Ambartzumian, R. V., Gorokhov, Yu. A., Letokhov, V. S. & Makarov, G. N. Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 69, 1956 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  66. Ambartzumian, R. V., Gorokhov, Yu. A., Letokhov, V. S. & Makarov, G. N. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 22, 96 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  67. Ambartzumian, R. V., Gorokhov, Yu. A., Letokhov, V. S., Makarov, G. N. & Puretzkii, A. A. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 22, 374 (1975); Phys. Lett. A 56, 183 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  68. Chekalin, N. V. et al. Phys. Lett. A 56, 243 (1975); Appl. Phys. 13, 311 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  69. Lyman, J. L. & Rockwood, S. D. Invited Rep. at 9th Int. Conf. Quantum Electron. (1976).

  70. Yogev, A. & Benmair, R. M. J. J. Am. chem. Soc. 97, 4430 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Koren, G., Oppenheim, U. P., Tal, D., Okon, M. & Weil, R. Appl. phys. Lett. 29, 40 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Tiee, J. J. & Wittig, K. Appl. phys. Lett. 32, 236 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Bittenson, S. & Houston, P. L. J. chem. Phys. 67, 4819 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Bagratashvili, V. N., Doljikov, V. S., Letokhov, V. S. & Ryabov, E. A. in Laser Induced Processes in Molecules, (eds Kompa, K. & Smith, D.) Vol. 7 (Springer, Berlin, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  75. Bloembergen, N. & Yablonovitch, E. Phys. Today 31, 23 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Bloembergen, N. & Yablonovitch, E. in Laser Spectroscopy III (eds Hall, J. L. & Carlsten, J. L.) Vol. 7, 86 (Springer, Berlin, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  77. Robinson, P. J., Holbrook, K. A. Unimolecular Reactions (Wiley, New York, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  78. Ambartzumian, R. V. et al. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. teor. Fiz. 23, 217 (1976); Opt. Commun. 18, 517 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  79. Ambartzumian, R. V., Gorokhov, Yu. A., Makarov, G. N., Puretzkii, A. A. & Furzikov, N. P. Kvantovaya Elektron. 4, 1590 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  80. Tiee, J. J. & Wittig, C. Opt. Commun. 27, 377 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Rabinowitz, P., Stein, A. & Kaldor, A. Opt. Commun. 27, 381 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Tiee, J. J. & Wittig, C. J. appl. Phys. 49, 61 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Rockwood, S. D. in Tunable Laser and Applications (eds Mooradian, A., Jaeger, T. & Stokseth, P.) Vol. 3, 140 (Springer, Berlin, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  84. Luiti, G., Dondes, S. & Harteck, P. J. chem. Phys. 44, 4052 (1966).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  85. Dunn, O., Harteck, P. & Dondes, S. J. phys. Chem. 77, 878 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Lin, D., Datta, S. & Zare, R. N. J. Am. chem. Soc. 97, 2557 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  87. Stuke, M. & Schäfer, F. P. Chem. phys. Lett. 48, 271 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Stuke, M. & Marinero, E. E. App. Phys. 16, 303 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  89. Gibert, R. J. Chem. Phys. & Phys. chim. Biol. 60, 205 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  90. Arnoldi, D., Kaufmann, K. & Wolfrum, J. Phys. Rev. Lett. 34, 1597 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Strunin, V. P., Serdiuk, N. K. & Panfilov, V. N. Proc. Acad. Sci. USSR 234, 1315 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  92. Freund, S. M. & Ritter, J. J. Chem. phys. Lett. 32, 255 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  93. London, H. Separation of Isotopes (Newnes, London, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  94. Bagratashvili, V. N. et al. Appl. Phys. 14, 217 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  95. Bagratashvili, V. N., Doljikov, V. S., Letokhov, V. S. & Ryabov, E. A. in Proc II Int. Gas-Flow and Chemical Lasers Symp. Belgium (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  96. Cox, L. Nuclear Power, Uranium Enrichment and Ore Projections through Year 2000 (Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, US ERDA, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  97. Vanderleeden, J. C. Laser Focus 13, 51 (1977).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  98. Yeung, E. S. & Moore, C. B. J. chem. Phys. 58, 3988 (1973) 60, 2139 (1974).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Marling, J. B. Chem. phys. Lett. 34, 84 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Marling, J. B. & Herman, I. P. Rep. X Int. Quant. Electron. Conf. Atlanta (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  101. Gross, R. W. F. Opt. Engng 13, 506 (1974).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  102. Letokhov, V. S. in Tunable Laser and Applications (eds Mooadian, A., Jaeger, T. & Stokseth, P.) Vol. 3, 122 (Springer, Berlin, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  103. Letokhov, V. S. Phys. Today 30, 23–32 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  104. Letokhov, V. S. in Progress in Optics (ed. Wolf, E., Vol. XVI, 1–69 (North-Holland, Amsterdam 1978).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Spectroscopy, USSR Academy of Science, Moscow, Podol'skii rayon, Troitzk, 142092, USSR

    V. S. Letokhov

Authors
  1. V. S. Letokhov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Letokhov, V. Laser isotope separation. Nature 277, 605–610 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277605a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/277605a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing