Studies for isotope separation of radioactive waste

Yokoyama, Keiichi  ; Kasajima, Tatsuya; Matsuoka, Leo; Hashimoto, Masashi; Tsubouchi, Masaaki; Sugiyama, Akira; Yokoyama, Atsushi

Technological innovation in the isotope separation of long-lived fission products is demanded. Quantum control may provide a breakthrough in such technology. Recently, we proposed a novel scheme based on cascaded excitation of rotation in diatomic molecules. Both (1) demonstration of quantum walk by Raman transition using a conventional Ti:Sapphire laser and (2) development of high-power terahertz-wave source are concurrently proceeded. (1) Cascaded excitation of rotation in the nitrogen molecule N will be induced by impulsive Raman transitions. At present, we are developing a method to observe the incoherent population distribution among rotational states, which involves femotosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. Also, current status of (2) development of high-power terahertz-wave source will be briefly introduced, including optical rectification in ZnTe and LiNbO crystals and a plan for construction of a high-power, picosecond laser as a driver laser.