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kaos
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kaos,kaos said:
Morbius said:When you do the calculations, you will find that the
"ionization potential" - that is the amount of energy you have to add to the outermost
electron to kick it free and form a charged ion - is very slightly less for U-235 than it
is for U-238.
Candyman,theCandyman said:I have a figure in one of my texts that shows that light of a lower wavelength is used for U-235. Does this not correspond to a higher energy for ionization for U-235 than for U-238?
The 'shorter' wavelength corresponds to a slightly higher ionization energy, but not by much.theCandyman said:I have a figure in one of my texts that shows that light of a lower wavelength is used for U-235. Does this not correspond to a higher energy for ionization for U-235 than for U-238?
ref: http://www.llnl.gov/str/News1097.htmlUSEC to Go Private
President Clinton has approved proceeding with the privatization of the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC). USEC manages the Laboratory's Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) project, which is intended to produce enriched uranium for commercial nuclear reactor fuel. USEC was created in 1992 by Congress to privatize federal uranium enrichment activities, which convert natural uranium to enriched uranium for reactor fuel. With Clinton's approval, USEC will now be moved to the private sector.
"The vision . . . is to move uranium enrichment out of the government and into the private sector while realizing a substantial return for the U.S. taxpayer," said USEC Chairman William J. Rainer. "This latest action moves us to the final stages of realizing that vision." The action also furthers the nation's largest technology transfer effort.
USEC officials estimate it will take approximately six months to convert to private ownership. Added Victor Lopiano, director of the AVLIS program at Livermore, "This is an important first step toward AVLIS deployment."
"Separation of Isotopes by Laser Excitation" is a technique used in isotope separation, which is the process of separating different isotopes of an element. It involves using lasers to excite specific isotopes, causing them to separate from the other isotopes and become concentrated in a specific area.
This technique works by using lasers to target specific isotopes of an element. The lasers excite the electrons in the isotopes, causing them to move to higher energy levels. As the isotopes move to different energy levels, they become easier to separate from the other isotopes and can be collected in a specific area.
One of the main benefits of this technique is that it is highly precise and efficient. It allows for the separation of isotopes with very similar properties, which can be difficult to achieve using other methods. Additionally, it is a non-destructive method, meaning the separated isotopes can be collected and used for further research or applications.
This technique has a wide range of applications, including in nuclear power plants, medical imaging and treatments, and scientific research. It is also used in the production of enriched uranium for nuclear weapons and in the purification of rare isotopes for use in scientific experiments.
One of the main challenges with this technique is the high cost of the equipment and resources needed for the process. It also requires a high level of expertise and precision to achieve successful separation. Additionally, the process can only be used for elements that have different isotopes with distinct energy levels, limiting its applicability to some elements.