Dissociation of uranium hexafluoride molecules in a twofrequency infrared laser field

Gaseous UF₆ was dissociated with radiation from a CF₄ laser. A considerable increase in the rate of dissociation of the UF₆ occurred under the combined action of CF₄ and CO₂ lasers. It was found that the CO₂ laser radiation acted most efficiently when its frequency was close to that of the ν₂+ν₃ overtone of the UF₆ gas. Visible luminescence, explained by emission from the UF₆ dissociation products, was observed in two-frequency dissociation of the UF₆. A mass-spectrometric investigation of the residual UF₆ gas failed to show any isotopic selectivity of the dissociation.