Keywords
Abstract
The results of studies of isotope-selective laser infrared (IR) multiphoton dissociation (MPD) of 11BCl3 molecules in a natural mixture with 10BCl3 by the radiation from a pulsed CO2 laser in the case of their irradiation with a sensitizer – SF6 molecules, which are simultaneously acceptors of radicals – Cl atoms formed during dissociation of BCl3 molecules are presented. A strong increase in the efficiency of dissociation of 11BCl3 molecules was discovered when they were irradiated with SF6 molecules compared to the case of irradiation without SF6. The main parameters of isotope-selective IR multiphoton dissociation of BCl3 molecules were measured – the dissociation yields of 11BCl3 (β11) and 10BCl3 (β10), as well as the selectivity of dissociation of 11BCl3 molecules relative to 10BCl3 molecules (α(11B/10B)). The dependences of these parameters on the pressures of the irradiated gases BCl3 and SF6, as well as on the energy density and frequency of the exciting laser radiation were obtained. The main products formed upon irradiation of the mixture of BCl3 and SF6 molecules used – SF5Cl, BCl2F, BClF2 and BF3 – have been identified. A significant (several times) increase in the yield and selectivity of dissociation of 11BCl3 molecules was observed, as well as a significant decrease in the threshold dissociation energy density when they were irradiated with SF6 compared to the case of irradiation without SF6. This opens up the possibility of implementing single-frequency isotope-selective laser MPD of 11BCl3 molecules in unfocused laser beams at moderate (no more than 4–5 J/cm2) excitation energy density. The results obtained are important and relevant in terms of the application of the described method for the development of laser technology for the separation of boron isotopes.