Aussie Scientists Develop Laser Enrichment of Uranium

[matt.o]

Hi All,

It seems a team of Aussie scientists at our one and only reactor have developed technology to use lasers to enrich Uranium. Sorry about the local rag link, but here is the story;

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/laser-enrichment-could-cut-cost-of-nuclear-power/2006/05/26/1148524888448.html"

I think this typifies Australian science - getting things done on a shoe-string budget!

 

[Rach3]

It doesn't sound very practical to me - ionizing every atom?

edit: Maybe it is possible after all (though v. expensive) - see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVLIS

 

[matt.o]

Actually, the Aussies did it a lot cheaper than quoted in that wiki article. It is always expensive to develop new technology like this. However, one would think that in the long run, the higher enrichment efficiency, energy consumption similar to the centrifuge process and less generated waste will outway the development costs.