A method of processing a nuclear material for use as a nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor is disclosed herein. The nuclear material includes a complex isotope vector including a plurality of isotopes including a targeted isotope and a non-targeted isotope. The method can include: determining a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation based, at least in part, on the targeted isotope; emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation including the determined wavelength towards the nuclear material; separating, via the emitted beam of electromagnetic radiation, the nuclear material into a first stream and a second stream; enriching, via the emitted beam of electromagnetic radiation, a concentration of the targeted isotope to a predetermined concentration; and dispositioning, via a sensitivity to the determined wavelength, the enriched concentration of the targeted isotope to the first stream of the nuclear material; and dispositioning, via a lack of sensitivity to the determined wavelength, the non-targeted isotope to the second stream of the nuclear material.

First and second laser beams having respective first and second wavelengths respectively excite palladium isotopes at a ground level to a first excited level then to a second excited level. At first and second excitation steps, palladium isotopes having an odd mass number are selectively excited to the second excited level, with the identity of the ion core state of each of the palladium isotopes retained between the first excited level and the second excited level. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are selected to allow the second excited level to be an autoionization level or, in a case where the second excited level is not the autoionization level, the first wavelength, the second wavelength, and a third wavelength are selected to excite the palladium isotopes at the second excited level to the autoionization level with a third laser beam having the third wavelength at a third excitation step.

First and second laser beams having respective first and second wavelengths respectively excite palladium isotopes at a ground level to a first excited level then to a second excited level. At first and second excitation steps, palladium isotopes having an odd mass number are selectively excited to the second excited level, with the identity of the ion core state of each of the palladium isotopes retained between the first excited level and the second excited level. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are selected to allow the second excited level to be an autoionization level or, in a case where the second excited level is not the autoionization level, the first wavelength, the second wavelength, and a third wavelength are selected to excite the palladium isotopes at the second excited level to the autoionization level with a third laser beam having the third wavelength at a third excitation step.

An isotope separation method, including introducing a first reactant stream (109), containing a natural abundance of at least one desired isotopologue molecule, a second reactant stream (110), and a recycle stream (112) into a photochemical reactor (101), thus producing a raw product stream (115), introducing the raw product stream (115) into a separation device (116), thus producing at least a product stream (117), a gas filter stream (113), and the recycle stream (112), and introducing at least a portion of the gas filter stream (113) into an unconventional (gas) filter (103), wherein the product stream (117) includes the at least one desired isotopologue molecule.

An isotope separation method, including introducing a first reactant stream (109), containing a natural abundance of at least one desired isotopologue molecule, a second reactant stream (110), and a recycle stream (112) into a photochemical reactor (101), thus producing a raw product stream (115), introducing the raw product stream (115) into a separation device (116), thus producing at least a product stream (117), a gas filter stream (113), and the recycle stream (112), and introducing at least a portion of the gas filter stream (113) into an unconventional (gas) filter (103), wherein the product stream (117) includes the at least one desired isotopologue molecule.

A method for producing a magnetic material includes: selecting a mixture of isotopes of a chemical element having a desired magnetic characteristic; identifying an isotope in the mixture of isotopes meeting a selection criterion; removing the identified isotope from the mixture of isotopes using an isotope separation device to produce an enriched mixture of isotopes having a decreased concentration of the identified isotope; wherein the enriched mixture of isotopes is the magnetic material.

A method for producing a magnetic material includes: selecting a mixture of isotopes of a chemical element having a desired magnetic characteristic; identifying an isotope in the mixture of isotopes meeting a selection criterion; removing the identified isotope from the mixture of isotopes using an isotope separation device to produce an enriched mixture of isotopes having a decreased concentration of the identified isotope; wherein the enriched mixture of isotopes is the magnetic material.

Methods for separating isotopes are provided. An embodiment of such a method comprises directing a supersonic beam characterized by an average velocity v and velocity distribution v/v, the beam comprising a first isotope and a second isotope, at a single-crystalline surface at an angle of incidence .sub.i such that the first isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle .sub.fl and the second isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle .sub.f2; and selectively collecting the scattered first isotope, the scattered second isotope, or both. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided.

Methods for separating isotopes are provided. An embodiment of such a method comprises directing a supersonic beam characterized by an average velocity v and velocity distribution v/v, the beam comprising a first isotope and a second isotope, at a single-crystalline surface at an angle of incidence .sub.i such that the first isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle .sub.fl and the second isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle .sub.f2; and selectively collecting the scattered first isotope, the scattered second isotope, or both. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided.

Isotope enrichment by laser activation wherein a multi-isotopic element Q, like Uranium, Silicon, Carbon is incorporated into gaseous QF.sub.n, QF.sub.6, QF.sub.4, QO.sub.mF.sub.n, etc and diluted in gas G like He, N.sub.2, Ar, Xe, SF.sub.6 or other inert gas; and wherein that mixture is cooled by adiabatic expansion or other means encouraging formation of dimers QF.sub.6:G in a supersonic super-cooled free jet; and wherein that jet is exposed to laser photons at wavelengths that selectively excite predetermined molecules .sup.iQF.sub.6 to .sup.iQF.sub.6*, thereby inducing rapid VT conversions and dissociations of .sup.iQF.sub.6*:G.fwdarw..sup.iQF.sub.6+G+kT, while leaving non-excited dimers .sup.jQF.sub.6:G intact; and wherein a skimmer separates the supersonic free-jet core stream containing heavier .sup.jQF.sub.6:G dimers from lighter core-escaped .sup.iQF.sub.6-enriched rim gases. Particularly an advanced technique is disclosed to enrich .sup.iUF.sub.6 by free jet expansion and isotope-selective dimerization suppression, utilizing a molecular CO laser and intra-cavity UF.sub.6 irradiation with laser lines overlapping predetermined .sup.iUF.sub.6 absorptions; and providing multiple free jet separator units irradiated by one laser beam, thereby enhancing process economics.