Synthesis of zirconium isotope materials by infrared laser

In order to understand photochemical reaction phenomena, when it is considered that light is composed of the photons having the energy proportional to its frequency, the understanding is easy. A molecule which absorbed a photon is excited to the energy level higher by the photon energy. Isotopes can be separated by the difference of their absorption wavelength, utilizing laser beam which is excellent in its monochromaticity. In this laser isotope separation, the selectivity of laser-induced reaction can be made very large, therefore, cascade operation is unnecessary, and the prescribed degree of concentration is attained by one step, thus the process can be made very compact. Also the cost for separation can be largely reduced. Zirconium alloys are used as the core materials of LWRs, such as fuel cladding tubes, fuel channels and spacers, for the reason of the corrosion resistance in high temperature water, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and thermal neutron absorption cross section. There are five isotopes in natural zirconium. As the warking medium for laser isotope separation of zirconium, zirconium alkoxide compounds are conceivable. Infrared multiple photon dissociation and its isotope selectivity are reported. Zr-91 which exists by 11.2% in natural zirconium is removed, and the rest is utilized. (K.I.)