Carbon isotope separation by infrared multiphoton dissociation of CF2HCl molecules with a separation reactor in a laser cavity

An investigation was made of isotopically selective multiphoton dissociation of CF₂HCl molecules by high-intensity infrared radiation in a separation reactor placed inside the cavity of a TEA CO₂ laser. Special attention was paid to the influence of the laser system parameters (linear and nonlinear cavity losses, input energy) on the time and spatial characteristics of the laser radiation, and to the dependences of the characteristics of an elementary isotope separation event (selectivity and dissociation yield) on these laser parameters. The intracavity position of the separation reactor made it possible to reach high energy densities in large volumes, to utilise efficiently the laser radiation, and to achieve high values of the selectivity (in excess of 100) and yield (over 5%) of the multiphoton dissociation process. The conditions of operation of this laser system were optimised in respect of the input energy and the CF₂HCl pressure in the separation reactor.