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Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium
Thesis (M. Sc.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1990.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2012
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| _version_ | 1867614116736139265 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Diedericks, Gerhardus Petrus Jacobus |
| author2 | Walters, P. E. |
| author_browse | Diedericks, Gerhardus Petrus Jacobus Walters, P. E. |
| author_facet | Walters, P. E. Diedericks, Gerhardus Petrus Jacobus |
| author_sort | Diedericks, Gerhardus Petrus Jacobus |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (M. Sc.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1990. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/68673 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:55.727Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publishDateRange | 2012 |
| publishDateSort | 2012 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/68673 Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium Diedericks, Gerhardus Petrus Jacobus Walters, P. E. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics. Zirconium -- Isotopes Isotope separation Dissertations -- Physics Thesis (M. Sc.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1990. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the possibility of separating the 91Zr isotope from the rest of the isotopes of zirconium. The current interest in zirconium arises from the fact that zirconium is an important element in the construction of nuclear reactors. The technique proposed for the isotope separation process is different from those currently in use for the separation of isotopes of refractory elements such as uranium. The proposed isotope separation process is based on the multi-step selective excitation of the isotope to be extracted, which in this case is 91Zr. The isotope-selective laser excitation relies on the angular-momentum selection rules for the absorption of circularly polarized light. The theory governing the isotope separation process is discussed and the various parameters in the practical implementation of the theory are investigated. The suitability of a demountable hollow cathode lamp as zirconium atomic vapour source was investigated. The optimum working conditions for the demountable hollow cathode lamp was determined and fluorescence, absorption and emission measurements were made. In order to realize a selective two-step excitation process, relevant energy levels must exist which fulfil certain requirements as will be discussed in the thesis. Energy levels fulfilling the necessary conditions for isotope separation are not readily available and an intensive study of the zirconium energy levels were made. Non-selective two-step excitation of the zirconium atoms was realized. These fluorescence measurements gave information regarding the optical alignment of the laser beams as well as the construction of the demountable hollow cathode lamp as atomic vapour source for the two-step excitation process. Although selective two-step excitation of the 91Zr isotope could not be achieved, a number of valuable results were obtained during the project. Proposals on how the necessary selective excitation could be achieved, in order to realize the separation of the 91Zr isotope, is discussed. Masters 2012-08-27T12:26:42Z 2012-08-27T12:26:42Z 1990 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/68673 en Stellenbosch University 103 pages : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Zirconium -- Isotopes Isotope separation Dissertations -- Physics Diedericks, Gerhardus Petrus Jacobus Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium |
| title | Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium |
| title_full | Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium |
| title_fullStr | Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium |
| title_short | Atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium |
| title_sort | atomic vapour laser isotope separation of zirconium |
| topic | Zirconium -- Isotopes Isotope separation Dissertations -- Physics |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/68673 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT diedericksgerharduspetrusjacobus atomicvapourlaserisotopeseparationofzirconium |