Laser induced photochemistry

Laser induced photochemistry is not in a position to make a major impact on industry in the next few years because of the high cost of laser photons. In the longer term, laser induced photochemistry probably will make a valuable contribution to industry. Consequently, stable support of basic research will be more beneficial to the development of industrial uses for laser induced photochemistry than will massive funding of applied projects with very short term goals. Diversity is important at this stage of the development of laser induced photochemistry, and research support should not be so concentrated in one or two research centers that work in universities and other research laboratories is excluded. The outstanding experimental facilities developed at the national laboratories during the course of work on uranium isotope separation should be made available to outside users from the industrial and academic research communities. More effective ways should be found to couple the results of applied work at national laboratories into industrial practice. The development of more efficient and economical lasers should be encouraged.