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Scientific Reports

Laser isotope separation of 176Lu through off-the-shelf lasers

Manda V. Suryanarayana, Manda Sankari

Published Sep 14, 2021• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We propose a novel and simple method for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu a precursor for the production of 177Lu medical isotope. The physics of the laser-atom interaction has been studied through the dynamics of the atomic level populations using the density matrix formalism. It has been shown that a combination of cw excitation lasers and pulsed ionization laser can be used for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu. The optimum conditions for the efficient and selective separation of 176Lu have been derived by studying the time evolution of level population under laser excitation. It has also been shown that, it might be possible to produce ~ 100% enriched 176Lu isotope at a rate of 5 mg/h, which is higher than all previously reported methods so far. The isotope separation process proposed can be easily adopted using off-the-shelf lasers, for similar atomic systems.

DOI
10.1038/s41598-021-97773-8

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Laser isotope separation of 176Lu through off-the-shelf lasers

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Abstract We propose a novel and simple method for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu a precursor for the production of177Lu medical isotope. The physics of the laser-atom interaction has been studied through the dynamics of the atomic level populations using the density matrix formalism. It has been shown that a combination of cw excitation lasers and pulsed ionization laser can be used for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu. The optimum conditions for the efficient and selective separation of 176Lu have been derived by studying the time evolution of level population under laser excitation. It has also been shown that, it is possible to produce ~100% enriched 176Lu isotope at a rate of 5 mg / hour, which is higher than all previously reported methods so far. The isotope separation process proposed can be easily adopted using off-the-shelf lasers, for similar atomic systems.

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Laser isotope separation of 176Lu through off-the-shelf lasers

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Abstract We propose a novel and simple method for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu a precursor for the production of177Lu medical isotope. The physics of the laser-atom interaction has been studied through the dynamics of the atomic level populations using the density matrix formalism. It has been shown that a combination of cw excitation lasers and pulsed ionization laser can be used for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu. The optimum conditions for the efficient and selective separation of 176Lu have been derived by studying the time evolution of level population under laser excitation. It has also been shown that, it is possible to produce ~100% enriched 176Lu isotope at a rate of 5 mg / hour, which is higher than all previously reported methods so far. The isotope separation process proposed can be easily adopted using off-the-shelf lasers, for similar atomic systems.

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Density matrix formalism and rate equations are commonly employed to analyze and optimize system parameters in atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) processes. However, in cases where coherent processes dominate over relaxation processes—as is the case with ytterbium (Yb)—the use of rate equations can lead to inaccurate or misleading results. In this work, we have compared the outcomes derived from the density matrix approach with recent results obtained using rate equations. The observed discrepancies have been analyzed, and the underlying causes discussed in detail. Furthermore, we have systematically investigated various system parameters to achieve optimal performance for the laser enrichment of the 176 Yb isotope. Under the optimized conditions, the system is capable of achieving an annual production of approximately 1.5 kg of 176 Yb enriched to >96%.

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Study of line shapes in the selective ionization of ^176Yb isotope in a two-step resonance, three-step ionization scheme

Manda Sankari, Perumal Kumar, Manda V. Suryanarayana

Ytterbium enriched in 176Yb is used for the production of the 177Lu radioisotope, which has applications in cancer treatment. We have theoretically studied the two-step resonant, three-step photoionization of the 176Yb isotope using the density-matrix approach. To simulate experimentally realistic conditions, the Doppler averaging, magnetic sublevel degeneracy, time-varying Rabi frequencies, ionization rate, angular divergence, and laser bandwidth have all been incorporated into the theoretical model. Calculations have been carried out to identify the optimized Rabi frequencies for evaluating the separation factor. The effect of the laser line shape on the excitation profile has also been thoroughly studied. We could obtain large separation factors of ~5000 for the 176Yb isotope, and the excitation conditions identified in this work may be utilized in the separation of the desired isotope.

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A theoretical investigation is made of the photoionisation of a three-level medium intended for laser isotope separation. The results show that the highest ionisation efficiency can be achieved by dividing the process into two stages: coherent population inversion and photoionisation. A study is made of the possibility of inversion of three-level systems for various detunings of the laser frequencies from the radiative transition frequencies. It is shown that there are detunings for which the population of the third level is maximal for any a priori selected parameters of the medium and field. Such detunings lie near a two-photon resonance and depend on the energy density and duration of the laser pulses, and also on the dipole moments of the transitions. The suitability of this method in the case of inhomogeneously broadened optically dense media is considered. It is shown that the method is most efficient in the case of counterpropagating laser pulses. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated for ytterbium.

Quantum Electronics•Jul 31, 1995•4 citations
Abstract We propose a novel and simple method for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu a precursor for the production of 177Lu medical isotope. The physics of the laser-atom interaction has been studied through the dynamics of the atomic level populations using the density matrix formalism. It has been shown that a combination of cw excitation lasers and pulsed ionization laser can be used for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu. The optimum conditions for the efficient and selective separation of 176Lu have been derived by studying the time evolution of level population under laser excitation. It has also been shown that, it might be possible to produce ~ 100% enriched 176Lu isotope at a rate of 5 mg/h, which is higher than all previously reported methods so far. The isotope separation process proposed can be easily adopted using off-the-shelf lasers, for similar atomic systems.
Abstract We propose a novel and simple method for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu a precursor for the production of177Lu medical isotope. The physics of the laser-atom interaction has been studied through the dynamics of the atomic level populations using the density matrix formalism. It has been shown that a combination of cw excitation lasers and pulsed ionization laser can be used for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu. The optimum conditions for the efficient and selective separation of 176Lu have been derived by studying the time evolution of level population under laser excitation. It has also been shown that, it is possible to produce ~100% enriched 176Lu isotope at a rate of 5 mg / hour, which is higher than all previously reported methods so far. The isotope separation process proposed can be easily adopted using off-the-shelf lasers, for similar atomic systems.
Abstract We propose a novel and simple method for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu a precursor for the production of177Lu medical isotope. The physics of the laser-atom interaction has been studied through the dynamics of the atomic level populations using the density matrix formalism. It has been shown that a combination of cw excitation lasers and pulsed ionization laser can be used for the laser isotope separation of 176Lu. The optimum conditions for the efficient and selective separation of 176Lu have been derived by studying the time evolution of level population under laser excitation. It has also been shown that, it is possible to produce ~100% enriched 176Lu isotope at a rate of 5 mg / hour, which is higher than all previously reported methods so far. The isotope separation process proposed can be easily adopted using off-the-shelf lasers, for similar atomic systems.
Numerical computations of ionization efficiency and isotope selectivity of 176 L u have been carried out for the following three-step ladder type photoionization scheme, 5 d 6 s 2 2 D 3 / 2 ( 0.0 c m − 1 ) − − − ⟶ 540.4068 n m ⁡ 5 d 6 s 6 p 4 F 5 / 2 o ( 18504.58 c m − 1 ) − − − ⟶ 535.0626 n m 5 d 6 s 7 s 4 D 3 / 2 ( 37193.98 c m − 1 ) − − − ⟶ 618.0061 n m 53375 c m − 1 A u t o i o n i z a t i o n S t a t e → L u + , by invoking the density matrix formalism for the laser–atom interactions. Equations of motion have been derived for the odd isotopes by inclusion of hyperfine levels. The line shapes and their effect on the ionization efficiency and isotope selectivity have been discussed in detail. The effects of power of excitation and ionization lasers, spectral bandwidths, pulse delays, Doppler broadening of the atomic ensemble on the ionization efficiency, and degree of enrichment have been presented. Optimum conditions for the power of excitation, detunings, and other system parameters for the selective yet efficient photoionization of 176 L u have been identified.
Density matrix formalism and rate equations are commonly employed to analyze and optimize system parameters in atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) processes. However, in cases where coherent processes dominate over relaxation processes—as is the case with ytterbium (Yb)—the use of rate equations can lead to inaccurate or misleading results. In this work, we have compared the outcomes derived from the density matrix approach with recent results obtained using rate equations. The observed discrepancies have been analyzed, and the underlying causes discussed in detail. Furthermore, we have systematically investigated various system parameters to achieve optimal performance for the laser enrichment of the 176 Yb isotope. Under the optimized conditions, the system is capable of achieving an annual production of approximately 1.5 kg of 176 Yb enriched to >96%.
Ytterbium enriched in 176Yb is used for the production of the 177Lu radioisotope, which has applications in cancer treatment. We have theoretically studied the two-step resonant, three-step photoionization of the 176Yb isotope using the density-matrix approach. To simulate experimentally realistic conditions, the Doppler averaging, magnetic sublevel degeneracy, time-varying Rabi frequencies, ionization rate, angular divergence, and laser bandwidth have all been incorporated into the theoretical model. Calculations have been carried out to identify the optimized Rabi frequencies for evaluating the separation factor. The effect of the laser line shape on the excitation profile has also been thoroughly studied. We could obtain large separation factors of ~5000 for the 176Yb isotope, and the excitation conditions identified in this work may be utilized in the separation of the desired isotope.
A theoretical investigation is made of the photoionisation of a three-level medium intended for laser isotope separation. The results show that the highest ionisation efficiency can be achieved by dividing the process into two stages: coherent population inversion and photoionisation. A study is made of the possibility of inversion of three-level systems for various detunings of the laser frequencies from the radiative transition frequencies. It is shown that there are detunings for which the population of the third level is maximal for any a priori selected parameters of the medium and field. Such detunings lie near a two-photon resonance and depend on the energy density and duration of the laser pulses, and also on the dipole moments of the transitions. The suitability of this method in the case of inhomogeneously broadened optically dense media is considered. It is shown that the method is most efficient in the case of counterpropagating laser pulses. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated for ytterbium.