laser separation

Laser separation is a method used for isotope enrichment, a process crucial for obtaining specific isotopes needed in industry, medicine, and science. This technique leverages the slight differences in how isotopes absorb light. By using precisely tuned lasers, one specific isotope can be excited, altering its chemical properties and allowing it to be separated from others.12

This method is particularly noted for its potential in enriching uranium, specifically separating ²³⁵U from ²³⁸U, which is essential for nuclear fuel and weapons. Laser separation is considered more energy-efficient and less wasteful than older methods like gaseous diffusion. While large-scale facilities have faced geopolitical and economic challenges, laser separation is predicted to play a role in producing nuclear fuels and is also being developed for separating rare stable isotopes for medical and life science applications.12