METHOD OF SEPARATING GASEOUS ISOTOPE COMPOUNDS AND APPARATUS

Method of separating gaseous isotope compounds through selective excitation and subsequent chemical reaction with a gaseous reaction partner as well as separation of the reaction product from the remaining gas mixture, including mixing a mixture of the gaseous isotope compounds that are to be separated and the reaction partner with a neutral, multiatomic diluent gas sharply subcooled to a temperature close to the condensation temperature thereof during a time period adequate for absorption of the oscillation energy of the isotope mixture yet inadequate for affording reproduction of the original condition of this mixture, transporting the isotope mixture with a carrier gas to a beam path of a laser with a flow velocity adjusted to the excitation frequency of one of the isotope compounds, the time during which the transport occurs corresponding to the time required for absorbing the oscillation energy, and then delivering the thereby resulting chemical reaction product to a separation device; and apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method.