Development of a laser system of the laboratory AVLIS complex for producing isotopes and radionuclides

The use of atomic vapour laser isotope separation (AVLIS) for solving a number of urgent problems (formation of ¹⁷⁷Lu radionuclides for medical applications, ⁶³Ni radionuclides for betavoltaic power supplies and ¹⁵⁰Nd isotope for searching for neutrinoless double β decay and neutrino mass) is considered. An efficient three-step scheme of photoionisation of neodymium atoms through the 50474-cm⁻¹ autoionising state with radiation wavelengths of the corresponding stages of λ₁ = 6289.7 Å, λ₂ = 5609.4 Å and λ₃ = 5972.1 Å is developed. The average saturation intensity of the autoionising transition is ∼6 W cm⁻², a value consistent with the characteristics of the previously developed photoionisation schemes for lutetium and nickel. A compact laser system for the technological AVLIS complex, designed to produce radionuclides and isotopes under laboratory conditions, is developed based on the experimental results. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)