Advances in the Argentine Project of Uranium Isotope Separation by Laser Technology

A. LAMAGNA; P. D. FAINSTEIN; D. FREGENAL; P. KNOBLAUCH; M. ZARCO; J. D. FUHR; J. FIOL; E. CORTIZO; E. KAUL; E. SANTOS; J. GONZÁLEZ; N. PACHAO; G. BERLÍN; S. CLAVIJO; E. KIRCHUK

Wuxi

Workshop; 15th International Workshop on Separation Phenomena in Liquids and Gases; 2019

The LASIE project (Argentinean Laboratory for Isotope Separation for Enrichment) was created by the Argentinean National Atomic Energy Commission to investigate and develop methods of laser assisted isotope separation for enrichment. The project comprises two distinctive phases. The first phase, currently in execution, consists in research and development of isotope separation techniques at laboratory scale while the second phase aims to the construction of a Mock-Up scale facility. In this communication we present the current status of the first phase of the project, and the different lines of research and development at laboratory scale. In particular, we discuss recent developments and results on Uranium Molecular Laser Isotope Separation experiments (MLIS) performed in pulsedsupersonic nozzles. The development of both a laser Raman shifter with wavelength 16μm, operating at 10 Hz, and a photoreactor chamber with pulsed gas beams have allowed to investigate isotope separation and selectivity by measuring the isotopically different UF6 dimers (238UF6-238UF6, 235UF6-238UF6, 235UF6-235UF6). These results will be discussed in the context of the project goals and other promising lines of research.All activities in the LASIE Project are developed in the framework of the nuclear fuel cycleprogramme in accordance with the non-proliferation treatments subscribed by Argentina