Supplement to
Scientific Intelligence Digest
The Scientific Intelligence Digest is produced solely by CIA. It Is prepared by the Office of Scientific Intelligence ond the Office of Weapons Intelligence. The Digest Is coordinated within CIA.
SIX0 Sep 76
[bill]
SOVIET RESEARCH ON URANIUM LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION
FOREWORD
Thr COACCfMIsotope separation by photoexcitutlon was considered as early2 liy scientists throughout thr wwld:eparation would attempt to take advantage of the slightly different energy leveh that exist In isotopes of the same element*es were separated successfully In th* laboratory, using ultraviolet light.n World War II. when uranium enriched Insotopeor the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Harold Urev Investigated uranium hcxafluorideand uranium hcxacloride (L'Cbj In attempting toranium Isotope separation mrthod bated on photorcuctlons. But ull HMfl attempt* to separate uranium Isotopes fulled because ordinary tight source* could nol lie tuned to narrow enough bondwldthi lo allow excitation of one Isotope without affecting the other.
The development of the laser revived world Intern! In photoeidtatloneant of uranium Isotope separation In. Tunable lasers, emitting nearly munnchromatlc. coherent light, permitted examination of the spectral characteristics nf uranium Isotope* and their compounds with greater precision and detail than eve* before, rrveullng spectral regions of potential Interest. It remained to develop ln*ers of sufficient power and stability that also could be tuned to the selected wavelengths, In order toeparation.
Two different approaches have been taken In attempting toranium User Isotope separation (LIS)I) selective photolonlration ol metallic uranium saporbotodiisociatlon of uranl'tm heiafluorlde gas. Successful laboratory separations have already been announced In the United States using the phntolonlzatlon method,ilot plant Is under construction. In this method, atoms of the Vm isotope are Ionized selectively by laser action and then can be separatedagneticajor disadvantage Is that the uranium metal must he heated toC to convert It to the vapor state. At these temperature* the corrosion problems are formidable. Abo, the energy requirement is obviously lnrgr.
The second method, thought by many to have the greater potential for successful commercial development. Involve* selective laser excitation ofgas at low temperatures followed byInduced dissociation, resulting In the formation of uranium pentafluorlde, which can be separa>ed by conventional means. This method' might alio lend Itselfhemical reaction of the excited molecules, again allowing separation from the unexdtcd I'-"hy ordinary means.
APPROVED FOR RELEASE ^ATtj1
SIJX0 Sep 76
CONCLUSIONS
Sovietilunifled program under way to develop an efficient, Inexpensive laser Isolope separation (LIS) process for the production of enriched uranium.
The Soviets could achieve at any time. If they have not alreudy doneaboratory demonstration of feasibility fnr the separation of uranium Isotopes by luserphoiodlssoclatlon of uranium hexafluorldeg"*
they are
s;rong In laser spectroscopy and laser development; MM they are known toigh Interest in uranium Isotope soparatlon by this technique. It Is unlikely that they have succeeded Inorking process using this method.
robably separated
measuTablearnovnts of uranium Isotopes in the laboratory by the selective ioniiutlon of hot metallic uraniumrocess similar to that described in L'S publications.
economic gain for the Soviets fromuranium LIS process would derivesales ol enrichment services tonuclear power reactor fuel, as well usability to extract theemaining inof gaseous diffusion plant tails.
process alto could provide the Soviets withcapability to Increase production ofuranium.
SLMMAHV
The motivation In-hind Ihr Wirt uranium LIS program appears to be primarilyuccessful uranium LIS procesi could mult In more contracti to supply uranium enrichment services for Western countries lhat require slightly enriched uranium to fuel nuclear power reactors. Another economic benefit would derive from the ability of Ihe Soviets to use un efficient LIS ptuccss to extract theemaining In gaseous diffusion plant tails.
The Soviet need for additional weapon grade uranium really cannot be determined.ranium LIS process would permit ihem to eipand future production of nuclear warheads if Ihe degsjojt_were iade'
DISCUSSION
on PhotodUiociation Methods
The Soviets were the first to separate isotopeswo-step photodissodatlon method using lasers. V.etokhov and his principle collaborator. B. V. Ambartiumyan. achieved international recognition3 when tltey published on the separation ofromy photodissoclatkm of ammonia (NHs) molecules by laserrc ohtainlng data and experience useful to their classified work on uranium LIS. For example,3 they published their work on sulfur hexafluorldchat work, which resulted In the separation of sulfur Isotopes. prob_bly was done because SFa Is analogous to uranium hexa fluoride (UFa).
I He was quite interested in
uranium LIS research, particularly with regard tospectroscopy and expansion cooling. The Soviet work published on osmium tetroxldeIs an Indication that they were studying the spectra ol heavy elements approaching the complexity of uranium, since the separation ofs otherwise of acadernjcjntetest_
A phenomenon known as "super excitation" was used by the Soviets In the SFa LIS work described SIOOvJX0 Sep 76
Research on PhotcionliaMon Methods
The Soviets may have separated uranium Isotopes experimentally2sing the selective txcltatlon and ionization of hot metallic uranium vapor. This process Is similar to the process used In the successful demonstrations In the United States at the Livermore and Jersey .suclear-Avco Laboratories.
Economic forces
"nppcor to be motivating the Soviets In their efforts to lie first toranium MS process. If the process can be operated as efficiently and Inexpensively as Itsvision, the USSR couldrastic cut In the .price of enrichment services and thusignificantly larger share of the world market as the need for power reactor fuel grows. The Soviets have obtained enrichment service contracts with nine Western countriesotaling0 separative work unitsr enough enrichment to produce slightly enriched uranium forore loadings forMWe pressurized-water reactors (PWRsJ The Soviets are extremely Interested in expanding this source of revenue.
X0 Sep 76
Original document.
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