Measurements of the isotopic composition of UF6 according to the fine structure of the IR absorption spectrum in the ν1 + ν3 band

Abstract

Absorption spectra of the Q-branch of the ν₁ + ν₃ vibrational–rotational band of uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) recorded in a range of 1290.0–1292.5 cm^–1 using a laser spectrometer based on a quantum cascade laser have been studied. The spectra of samples with a natural isotopic composition (0.7% U²³⁵), an enriched sample (90% U²³⁵), and their gas mixtures (2, 5, and 20% U²³⁵) in a pressure range of 10–70 Torr at a temperature of T = 296 K have been analyzed. The experiments have revealed a highly reproducible fine structure of the recorded spectra. Periodic singularities in the fine-structure spectra have been interpreted as a manifestation of hot band transitions near the Q-branch. Anharmonicity constants X₂₁, X₃₁, and X₃₂ and their combinations X_i1 + X_i3 (i = 4, 5, 6) have been determined. The characteristic features in the fine-structure spectra and the initial spectrum have been used to determine the isotopic composition of enriched UF₆ samples.