Possibility of separation of 127I and 129I isotopes using a photodissociation iodine laser

A method of separating iodine isotopes is proposed. This method is based on the large difference between the rate constants of the reactions of the excited I (²P_1/2) and unexcited I (²P_3/2) iodine atoms with CF₃ radicals and Cl₂ molecules and on the feasibility of selective irradiation of ¹²⁷I atoms in the ²P_1/2 and ²P_3/2 states by a photodissociation iodine laser utilizing R ¹²⁷I molecules (λ =1.315 μ). A method of separating the pure isotope ¹²⁹I from a mixture of ¹²⁷I and ¹²⁹I is discussed.