Laser separation of uranium

Unlike conventional processes (gaseous diffusion, ultracentrifugation), see the "Uranium enrichment" article. , high elemental enrichment processes use a change in the physical state of molecules or atoms of the ²³⁵ U isotope only. In laser isotope separation processes, this change most often involves selectively ionizing an atom or dissociating a molecule. This is achieved by using the spectral finesse of lasers to distinguish, in the laser-atom or laser-molecule interaction, neighboring energy levels corresponding to two distinct isotopes. A separation factor of several units can thus be achieved in a single step, directly producing the desired content without cascading. This greater efficiency is achieved at the cost of cutting-edge technology, both for achieving the separative effect and for collecting the 235 isotope.

Interest in laser processes dates back to the 1970s (the first lasers were developed in 1960). The energy available at the output of high-recurrence pump lasers and tunable lasers (i.e., with adjustable wavelengths) has become sufficient to envisage production, but no industrial project for laser isotope separation of uranium has yet come to fruition. However, as laser performance improves and costs fall, these processes are of interest as a potential way forward.