A scavenger gas (e.g. methane) is also included in the mixture to bind with the fluorine atoms after they are dissociated from the UF6 and inhibit their recombination with the enriched UF5 product.
In the first stage, the expanded and cooled stream of UF6 is irradiated with an infrared laser operating at the wavelength of 16 μm.
The mix is then irradiated with another laser, either infrared or ultraviolet, whose photons are selectively absorbed by the excited 235UF6, causing its photolysis to 235UF5 and fluorine.
[citation needed] The process is complex: many mixed UFx compounds are formed which contaminate the product and are difficult to remove.
[citation needed] The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia has developed the SILEX pulsed laser separation process.