POSSIBILITY OF SEPARATION OF 127I AND 129I ISOTOPES USING A PHOTODISSOCIATION IODINE LASER.

A method of separating iodine isotopes is proposed. This method is based on the large difference between the rate constants of the reactions of the excited I (**2P//1/////2) and unexcited I (**2P//3/////2) iodine atoms with CF//3 radicals and Cl//2 molecules and on the feasibility of selective irradiation of **1**2**7I atoms in the **2P//1/////2 and **2P//3/////2 states by a photodissociation iodine laser utilizing R **1**2**7I molecules ( lambda equals 1. 315 mu ). A method of separating the pure isotope **1**2**9I from a mixture of **1**2**7I and **1**2**9I is discussed.