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Research Papers

# Theoretical Investigations on Laser-Assisted Depletion of $Gd152$ Isotope From Natural Gadolinium

[+] Author and Article Information
M. Sankari

Accelerator and Pulse Power Division,
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,
Visakhapatnam 530 012, India

M. V. Suryanarayana

Accelerator and Pulse Power Division,
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,
Visakhapatnam 530 012, India
e-mail: suryabarcv@gmail.com

1Corresponding author.

Manuscript received January 6, 2015; final manuscript received April 15, 2015; published online September 3, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Michal Kostal.

ASME J of Nuclear Rad Sci 1(4), 041017 (Sep 03, 2015) (10 pages) Paper No: NERS-15-1002; doi: 10.1115/1.4030504 History: Received January 06, 2015; Accepted April 30, 2015; Online September 16, 2015

## Abstract

We have proposed laser-assisted depletion of $Gd152$ isotope from a natural isotopic mixture of Gd to enhance its functional efficiency as a burnable poison. Theoretical investigations on laser-assisted depletion of $Gd152$ isotope from natural gadolinium have been carried out for two-color resonant three-color photoionization pathways using density matrix formalism. Calculations have been carried out using a density matrix formalism to optimize conditions for high ionization efficiency without much sacrifice in the isotopic selectivity. Optimum conditions for good isotopic selectivity of $Gd152$ without significant sacrifice in the ion yield have been identified. Under appropriate conditions, all the 17 photoionization schemes are found to be useful for the laser-assisted separation of $Gd152$ isotopes which can be used for reactor applications. The effect of source, laser, and atom parameters on isotopic selectivity and ionization efficiency has been investigated. Among the photoionization schemes investigated, one of the photoionization scheme has been investigated in detail. Under optimized conditions, this photoionization scheme has resulted in high ionization efficiency ($>50%$) and high isotopic selectivity $(1.2×104)$.

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## Figures

Fig. 1

Distribution of the level populations of Gd metastable states at various temperatures

Fig. 2

King’s plot of the 9D40(532.977  cm−1)→9D4(17930.516  cm−1) (574.794  nm) transition in Gd

Fig. 3

Mass number of gadolinium isotopes versus difference in mean-square nuclear charge distribution with reference to Gd160 isotope

Fig. 4

Generalized two-step photoionization scheme

Fig. 5

Doppler-free two-dimensional lineshape of Gd152 isotope for Scheme-7. The power densities of the first, second, and third excitation laser(s) are set to 100  W/cm2. Resonance position of Gd157 (center of gravity) is also shown

Fig. 6

Two-dimensional contour plot of lineshape for Scheme-7. The power densities of the first, second, and third excitation laser(s) are set to 14,000, 19,000, and 55,000  W/cm2, respectively. Resonance position of Gd157 (center of gravity) is also shown

Fig. 7

Normalized flux distribution and Doppler-shifted two-photon detuning plotted against atom velocity

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