Proton induced reactions on Y-89 with particular reference to the production of the medically interesting radionuclide Zr-89

摘要

Excitation functions of the reactions Y-89(p, n)Zr-89, Y-89(p, 2n)Zr-88 and Y-89(p, pn)Y-88 were measured front their respective thresholds up to 17.7 MeV, with particular emphasis on data for the production of the medically important radionuclide Zr-89. The conventional stacked-foil technique was used, and the samples for irradiation were prepared by the sedimentation process. The excitation functions obtained were compared with those calculated theoretically using the ALICE-IPPE code. The measured data were also compared with the available literature values. From the experimental data the theoretical yields of the investigated radionuclides were calculated as a function of proton energy. The excitation function for the Y-89(p, n)Zr-89 reaction measured in the proton energy range 5.1 to 17.7 MeV shows a pronounced broad peak in the energy range 16 -> 11 MeV. On the other hand and because of the high threshold energy of the two other reactions Y-89(p, 2n)Zr-88 and (89)(p, pn)Y-88, their excitation functions were measured only in the proton energy range 14.3 to 17.7 MeV. Differential and integral yields for the production of the three radionuclides were calculated. It was found that the suitable energy range for the production of Zr-89 is 14 ->. 9 MeV; over this energy range the Zr-89 amounts to 58 MBq/mu A h. In the proton energy range provided by MGC-20 cyclotron [E-p(max) = 18 MeV], only (89)Zi can be produced in a suitable activity and with a high Purity. Production of Zr-88 and Y-88 needs proton energy higher than that provided by this type of cyclotron.