Dye-laser-induced separation of nitrogen and carbon isotopes

Abstract

A unimolecular, laser-induced dissociation reaction of s-tetrazine (C 2H 2N 4), with a quantum yield of close to unity, was used to separate nitrogen 14 15 and carbon 12 13 isotopes. The sharp Q-branch of the 0-0 band of the 5515 Å absorption system of tetrazine was irradiated for 1 minute periods with a 10 mW cw tunable dye laser output that was monochromatic to about 0.05 Å. Each of the decomposition products, found here to be HCN and N 2, as well as the starting material, could be altered in isotopic composition, in either direction, by selection of an appropriate laser wavelength. The largest one-step enrichment ratio measured was 72. It makes possible mass separation at an efficiency of 17 moles per kWh of laser energy.