Method and apparatus for separating isotopes using state selection
US4197093A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 1976 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D59/34
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A beam of ammonia molecules including the isotopes N.sup.15 H.sub.3 and N.sup.14 H.sub.3 is generated wherein some of the molecules of each isotope reside in an asymmetric energy state and other of the molecules of each isotope reside in a symmetric energy state. The symmetric state molecules are removed from the beam in a first state selector to provide a beam containing substantially only asymmetric state molecules of each isotope. The latter beam is fed to a resonant microwave cavity where it interacts with microwaves of a frequency inducing asymmetric state to symmetric state transitions for molecules of one of the isotopes but not for molecules of the other isotope. Either the asymmetric state molecules or the symmetric state molecules are removed from the resultant beam in a second state selector to provide a beam containing substantially only molecules of the other energy state enriched in the isotope N.sup.15 H.sub.3.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.