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Issue 10, 2026
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Laser separation of boron isotopes: research results and options for technological implementation

† 
Institute of Spectroscopy, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Fizicheskaya 5, Troitsk, Moscow, 108840, Russian Federation

Due to the widespread use of boron isotopes (10B and 11B) in some major industries and medicine, production of these isotopes is now an urgent issue, driving significant interest in the development of effective methods for their separation (enrichment). Research aimed at developing methods for laser isotope separation (LIS) of boron has recently intensified. Results of studies on boron LIS are reviewed. The main concepts of LIS and the necessary conditions for the implementation of laser techniques are briefly discussed. The infrared (IR) absorption spectra underlying laser isotope separation of boron-containing molecules, which are used in experiments on boron LIS, are presented and analyzed. High-energy and low-energy methods of molecular laser separation of boron isotopes, along with the physicochemical processes on which they are based, are considered. The results of early studies of isotope-selective laser IR dissociation of boron trichloride (BCl3) molecules using various excitation techniques and 2-chloroethenyldichloroborane (HClC=CHBCl2), which are of greatest interest for laser separation of boron isotopes, and the results of new studies are reported and discussed. The results of studies of selective IR multiphoton dissociation (MPD) of 11BCl3 molecules in a natural mixture with 10BCl3 molecules upon their irradiation with a sensitizer (SF6 molecules, which simultaneously perform as acceptors of radicals — Cl atoms formed during dissociation of BCl3 molecules) are considered. The use of a sensitizer is shown to significantly enhance the efficiency of dissociation of 11BCl3 molecules. The results obtained for boron LIS are systematized. Based on the analysis of research results, the optimal methods for the technological implementation of boron LIS in practice are proposed. A brief historical overview of research in laser separation of boron isotopes is given.

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Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2024.11.039808
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Keywords: atoms, molecules, clusters, boron, molecular and cluster beams, laser spectroscopy, laser-induced selective processes in molecules and clusters, laser isotope separation, laser physics
PACS: 07.77.Gx, 28.60.+s, 33.80.−b, 36.40.−c, 42.62.−b, 42.62.Fi, 82.50.Bc (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2024.11.039808
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2025/5/b/
001524725300002
2-s2.0-105009007657
2025PhyU...68..452M
Citation: Makarov G N "Laser separation of boron isotopes: research results and options for technological implementation" Phys. Usp. 68 452–489 (2025)
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Received: 15th, May 2024, revised: 3rd, September 2024, 18th, November 2024

Оригинал: Макаров Г Н «Лазерное разделение изотопов бора: результаты исследований и варианты технологической реализации» УФН 195 478–518 (2025); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2024.11.039808

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