A review of laser isotope separation of uranium hexafluoride

There is continuing world-wide interest in the possibility of enriching uranium by a laser process which uses uranium hexafluoride. Since no actual commercial plant exists at present, this review examines the key areas of related research. It concludes that such a process is feasible, that it must employ an adiabatic cooling system, with UF6 the minor constituent in a predominantly monatomic or diatomic carrier gas, that the necessary infrared and/or ultraviolet-visible lasers are in a state of development bordering on the minimum required, and that the economics of such a process appear highly promising