Separation of binary gas mixtures in a capillary with an optical lattice

Gas species separation in thin capillaries is proposed based on the non-resonant interaction of polarizable gas molecules with an optical lattice produced by the interaction of two counter-propagating laser beams. Analytical expressions are developed for the evaluation of separation efficiency based on the gas and laser properties. The analytical predictions are compared with the direct simulation Monte Carlo method both in terms of flow velocities and concentrations and are found in good agreement. A graph is presented. Comparison of the radial distribution of gas drift velocity induced inside a capillary at the optical lattice phase velocity ξ = 250 m/s.