Isotope selective ionization utilizing molecular laser alignment

Akagi, Hiroshi; Kasajima, Tatsuya; Kumada, Takayuki   ; Itakura, Ryuji; Yokoyama, Atsushi; Hasegawa, Hirokazu*; Oshima, Yasuhiro*

We have experimentally realized a new laser isotope separation method, utilizing molecular laser alignment and angular dependent ionization. We have introduced gas mixture including N and N isotopomers into a vacuum chamber, and have shined a linearly-polarized laser pulse onto the gas jet to produce molecular alignment state of the isotopomers. We have shined another laser pulse to ionize the isotopomers through the nonresonant multiphoton ionization. Ion yield ratio N/N has varied from 0.85 to 1.22, depending on delay time between the two laser pulses.