Isotope separation in supersonic molecular beams using rf spectroscopy

Radiative isotope separation (without lasers) has been achieved using isotopic differences in the rf spectrum of paramagnetic molecules in a supersonic nozzle beam. The combination of molecular-beam magnetic resonance and supersonic molecular-beam techniques can be used for isotope separation on a large scale. The principle was demonstrated experimentally for molecular oxygen. The vastly larger isotope spectral differences, the tunability of the spectra by external fields, and the use of the well-developed technologies are promising starting points for this technique.