Laser Isotope Separation in Atomic Vapor

Book excerpt: Written by leading Russian scientists, including Nobel laureate, A.M. Prokhorov (1916-2002), this first book on this important technology allows an understanding of the physics of atomic vapor laser isotope separation and new photochemical methods of laser isotope separation. One entire chapter is devoted to chemical reactions of atoms in excited states, while further chapters deal with the separation of isotopes by one photon isotope-selective and coherent isotope-selective two photon excitation of atoms. A final chapter looks at the prospects for the industrial production of isotope products by laser isotope separation. The whole is rounded off by six appendices. - Laser isotope separation in atomic vapors - Laser technique for isotope separation - Chemical reactions of atoms in excited states - Isotope separation by single-photon isotope-selective excitation - Coherent isotope-selective two-photon excitation of atoms - Prospects for industrial isotope production The Authors Petr A. Bokhan Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia Vladimir V. Buchanov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia Nikolai V. Fateev Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia Mikhail M. Kalugin Scanning Laser Company, St. Petersburg, Russia Mishik A. Kazaryan P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia Alexander M. Prokhorov (1916-2002) was awarded - jointly with Nikolay G. Basov of the Soviet Union and Charles H. Townes of the United States - the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1964 for fundamental research in quantum electronics. In 1954, Prokhorov became head of the Oscillation Laboratory at the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute and subsequently professor at the Moscow State University. In 1983 he founded the General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and has been recipient of numerous national and international honours and awards. After his death the General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences was renamed 'A. M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute'. Dmitrij E. Zakrevskii Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia Further titles: Brown, Thomas G., Creath, Katherine, Kogelnik, Herwig, Kriss, Michael A., Schmit, Joanna, Weber, Marvin J. (eds.) The Optics Encyclopedia Basic Foundations and Practical Applications. 5 Volumes. 2003 ISBN 3-527-40320-5