Isotope selective three-step photoionization of 176Yb

Abstract

Atomic vapor laser isotope separation of 176 Y b has been investigated through the density matrix analysis of laser–atom interactions in a three-step photoionization process. For the first time, to our knowledge, the method has been applied for both odd and even isotopes of Yb. The effects of peak power densities of the lasers, bandwidth of the excitation lasers, angular divergence, and number density of the atoms on the degree of enrichment have been studied. Peak power densities of the first, second, and third excitation lasers of 20, 20, and 40 , 000 W / c m 2 , respectively, and full angle divergence of the atomic beam of 120° were found to be optimum for the isotope separation of 176 Y b . The effects of resonant charge exchange collisions and atomic number densities on the degree of enrichment and production rates have also been studied. It has also been observed that the atomic number densities in the laser–atom interaction region should be limited to 1 × 1 0 12 a t o m s / c m 3 to obtain ∼ 90 % degree of enrichment of the 176 Y b isotope. At higher number densities of 1 × 1 0 13 a t o m s / c m 3 , the degree of enrichment decreases to 43.9%. The optimum range of bandwidths of excitation lasers is found be 90–120 MHz. At optimum conditions, the computed production rate of 22 mg/h is in good agreement with the previously reported value of 20 mg/h.