[en] In the atomic laser isotope separation process, the laser beams propagate through the atomic vapor over a long distance. It has been shown that the laser-atom interactions significantly modify the laser pulse shape and propagation velocity, resulting in degradation of the isotope separation efficiency. These propagation effects have been analyzed quantitatively, and a simple scaling formula has been derived to estimate the necessary laser energy for such optically thick atomic vapor. The optimum conditions of incident laser pulse have also been discussed. (author)