Abstract: Separation of gaseous isotopes such as UF.sub.6 by adiabatically expanding a gas stream containing the isotopes to cool to a temperature at which condensation or dimers are formed. Selectively exciting by electromagnetic radiation one isotope compound to inhibit condensation or to effect dissociation of dimers containing one isotope compound. Deflecting the flow of the gas stream to effect a change of isotope distribution in the gas stream. Separating by peeling the enriched portion of the gas stream from the remainder depleted portion of the gas stream.

Abstract: Separation of isotopes from a gaseous mixture of substances containing the isotopes by incorporating supplemental gas and adiabatically expanding at an expansion ratio and starting temperature to cool the mixture and effect condensation of at least a portion of the supplemental gas. Laser radiation is applied to effect selective excitation of one isotope component with selective retention of the non-excited isotope component in the condensate. The condensation may be accelerated by generating condensation nuclei. A compression joint may be used to effect a temperature rise of the gaseous mixture and peelers employed to separate the gas stream portion rich in excited isotope component from the portion rich in non-excited isotope component.

Abstract: Separation of an isotope substance from a vaporous mixture of isotope substances such as UF.sub.6, by selective excitation of low temperature of one isotope compound by electromagnetic radiation to effect chemical reaction of the excited isotope compound with a reaction partner. Separate bodies of the vaporous mixture of isotope compounds and the reaction partner are cooled by adiabatic expansion to a temperature below 100 K. The cooled vapors are mixed in a chamber where the reaction partner is condensed to form solid matter into which isotope compounds are incorporated. The solid matter with or without compacting is subjected to radiation to excite one isotope compound and react it with the reaction product to produce a reaction product which contains predominently the one isotope.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separation of an isotope substance from a mixture of isotope substances such as UF.sub.6 by adiabatically decompressing the mixture in vaporous or gaseous form to cool the mixture to a temperature below 100.degree. K. and irradiating by an electromagnetic wave selectively absorbed by an isotope substance, passing the mixture after cooling and irradiating in a diffuser at a velocity greater than the speed of sound and decelerating to convert the velocity into pressure with reduced velocity of the mixture. The higher pressure results in substantial reduction in operating costs and capital investment.

Abstract: Method for isotope separation or enrichment in a vaporous mixture of compounds containing the isotopes to selectively excite the group of molecules containing one isotope by means of coherent, polarized electromagnetic radiation (lasers) in which a frequency shift is prevented or greatly reduced and the excitation state can be driven very high to beyond the dissociation limit. This is accomplished by adjusting the frequency and field strength of the radiation so that the dipole moment of the group of molecules to be excited, oscillates, at least at the final amplitude, mainly in phase opposition to the exciting field, and the other group of molecules mainly in phase with the exciting field. In another procedure the radiation has a frequency closer to the resonance frequency of the group of molecules to be separated and is of the order of magnitude of the isotope-determined frequency difference, and both groups of molecules operate in phase opposition.

Abstract: A gaseous jet of a mixture of matter or isotopes to be separated is penetrated by a polarized electromagnetic wave, e.g., a laser or maser beam. The required frequency is in the vicinity of a resonant frequency of a molecular dipole of the substance to be separated. For deflecting the mixture components and therefore, their separation, the forces on the molecular dipoles produced by the electric and/or the magnetic field are utilized. SUBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention concerns a method for separating gaseous mixtures of matter or isotopes. The problem of separating mixtures of matter into their individual components occurs frequently in technology. Among this class of problems are, for instance, also the concentration and depletion of individual substances in mixtures of substances, such as, in nuclear technology, the enrichment of fissionable uranium 235, of which only 0.7% is present in the natural isotope mixture of uranium. The methods heretofore applied for this purpose, e.g.

Abstract: A standing electromagnetic wave haing nodes, penetrates through a gaseous jet of the mixture of the isotopes to be separated, while relative motion takes place between the wave and mixture in such a manner that the isotopes are prevented from dwelling in the vicinity of the wave nodes while the isotopes are traversed by the electromagnetic wave. By adjusting the frequency of the electromagnetic wave so that the individual isotopes of the mixture are selectively influenced differently as far as their dipole behavior is concerned, they can be segregated by the electric and/or magnetic field of the wave. Undesirable effects of such dwelling can also be reduced by the angularity at which the wave penetrates the gaseous jet.