Isotopic separation

A method and apparatus are provided for separating isotopes in an atomic or molecular mixture. The isotropic recoil momenta resulting from selective excitation and ionization of an atomic beam are used to mechanically separate a desired isotope from the beam. Similarly, the isotropic recoil momenta resulting from selective photon excitation and promotion of dissociative electron attachment of a molecular beam of uranium hexafluoride are used preparatory to mechanical separation. The isotropic recoil momenta resulting from multi-photon dissociation recoil in a molecular beam of UF6 or SF6 is also used for separation. Matrix formation of UF5 in HBr so as to collapse the ν3 vibrational mode of the UF6 molecule is used in conjunction with selective isotopic excitation to promote reduction of UF6 molecules containing U235 and facilitate simplified separation