Evaluation of nuclear reaction cross section data for the production of (87)Y and (88)Y via proton, deuteron and alpha-particle induced transmutations

Production of zirconium-88 via proton irradiation of metallic yttrium and preparation of target for neutron transmission measurements at DICER

A process for the production of tens to hundreds of GBq amounts of zirconium-88 (⁸⁸Zr) using proton beams on yttrium was developed. For this purpose, yttrium metal targets (≈20 g) were irradiated in a ~16 to 34 MeV proton beam at a beam current of 100-200 µA at the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility (IPF). The ⁸⁸Zr radionuclide was produced and separated from the yttrium targets using hydroxamate resin with an elution yield of 94(5)% (1σ). Liquid DCl solution in D₂O was selected as a suitable ⁸⁸Zr sample matrix due to the high neutron transmission of deuterium compared to hydrogen and an even distribution of ⁸⁸Zr in the sample matrix. The separated ⁸⁸Zr was dissolved in DCl and 8 µL of the obtained solution was transferred to a tungsten sample can with a 1.2 mm diameter hole using a syringe and automated filling station inside a hot cell. Neutron transmission of the obtained ⁸⁸Zr sample was measured at the Device for Indirect Capture Experiments on Radionuclides (DICER).

Effects of combining some theoretical models in the cross-section calculations of some alpha-induced reactions for natSb

In cases where it is not possible to obtain the cross-section values experimentally due to various factors, the importance of obtaining them with theoretical models has been explained in many studies available in the literature. In this context, the comparison of the cross-section values obtained by using the theoretical models with the experimental data will also be very beneficial for updating and developing these models. Existing studies, which also serve this purpose, have given inspiration to this study and it is aimed to examine the effects of the simultaneous use of the alpha optical model potentials and the level density models on the cross-section calculations for some alpha-particle-induced reactions on natural antimony. The effects of theoretical models on the cross-section calculations were investigated by comparing the obtained calculation results with the experimental data taken from the literature. The TALYS code, which is frequently preferred in the literature, was used in all calculations within the scope of this study. For the comparison of the calculated results with the experimental data, not only a visual analysis by graphing the outcomes, but also a mean-weighted-deviation calculation was used, and the findings were interpreted by accounting for both of them.

An overview of nuclear data standardisation work for accelerator-based production of medical radionuclides in Pakistan

The standardisation of nuclear reaction cross section data is an integral part of optimisation of production routes of medical radionuclides. The production cross sections are available for the reactor and cyclotron produced radionuclides to be used for diagnostics or therapeutic procedures. The types of nuclear data needed, and the sources of their availability are summarized. The method of standardisation of charged-particle data is briefly described. A historical overview of research work in Pakistan in this direction is given. Examples of a few medically important radionuclides, such as 64Cu, 86Y, 89Zr, 103Pd, 186Re, etc., whose data were standardised and evaluated are highlighted. Calculated thick target yields from the recommended data are given. Some new directions in the nuclear data research are outlined.

Investigation of activation cross sections for deuteron induced reactions on strontium up to 50MeV

Excitation functions were measured for the ^natSr(d,x)^{88,87m,87g,86g,85g}Y, ^{87m,85g,83g,82}Sr, ^{86g,84g,83,82m,81g}Rb reactions by the stacked foil activation technique and high-resolution gamma-spectrometry up to 50MeV. We present the first experimental activation cross section data for all investigated reactions. Our experimental data are compared with the TALYS code results as available in the TENDL-2015 on-line library. Use of deuteron induced reactions on Sr for production of medical isotopes is discussed.