High-resolution 352 nm range fluorescence spectra for carbon-14 formaldehyde

Abstract

Carbon-14 isotope separation technologies are important in various fields especially in the nuclear industry for radioactive waste treatment. Nowadays, laser isotope separation of carbon-14 based on photo-dissociation of formaldehyde molecule has become feasible. To develop this technology, spectral information of formaldehyde isotopologues is essential. We constructed a fluorescence spectroscopic setup including a tunable ultraviolet laser system to measure the carbon-14 formaldehyde spectrum. We also developed an evaporation process, involving self-enrichment of formaldehyde to obtain fluorescence signals using limited concentrations and amounts of samples. We demonstrate that the formaldehyde fluorescence spectra are in the 28,371–28,432 cm⁻¹ wavelength region, and identify the individual ¹⁴CH₂O peaks and estimate their absorption cross-sections.