Selective molecular excitation method and isotope separation method using the same, isotope analysis method, selective molecular excitation apparatus and isotope separation apparatus

Abstract

Molecules of a specific species can be selectively excited among molecules of a plurality of species that show only a slight difference of mass. Energy levels can be displayed on a graph where the horizontal axis indicates excitation energy. Assume an instance where an electromagnetic wave showing a comb-shaped spectrum having a plurality of narrow bands as indicated by Pthrough Pand tuning with excitation energies corresponding to the rotational levels of molecule X is irradiated onto the molecule X. The molecule X can sequentially make transitions to higher energy levels by using an electromagnetic wave showing such a comb-shaped spectrum. The energy levels of molecule Y are not synchronized with the comb-shaped spectrum. The two ranges of Ythrough Yand Ythrough Yoperate as gates and the molecule Y cannot make transition from a rotational level to another when a gate is found between them.