Integral cross section measurements for the validation of excitation functions of (n,p) reactions relevant to the production of the therapeutic radionuclides ~(32)P, ~(64)Cu, ~(67)Cu, ~(89)Sr, ~(90)Y and ~(153)Sm

摘要

Nuclear data for production of the therapeutic radionuclides ~(32)P (T_(1/2) velence 14.26 d), ~(64)Cu (T_(1/2) velence 12.7 h), ~(67)Cu (T_(1/2) velence 61.83 h), ~(89)Sr (T_(1/2) velence 50.53 d), ~(90)Y (T_(1/2) velence 64.10 h) and ~(153)Sm (T_(1/2) velence 46.75 h) via (n,p) reactions on ~(32)S, ~(64)Zn, ~(67)Zn, ~(89)Y, ~(90)Zr and ~(153)Eu, respectively, are discussed. The available information on each excitation function was analysed. From the recommended data set for each reaction the average integrated cross section for a standard 14 MeV d(Be) neutron field was deduced. The spectrum-averaged cross section was also measured experimentally. A comparison of the integrated value with the integral measurement served to validate the excitation function within about 15 percent. A fast neutron source appears to be much more effective than a fission reactor for production of the above mentioned radionuclides in no-carrier-added form via the (n,p) process. In particular, the possibility of production of high specific activity ~(153)Sm is discussed. An alternative reaction, namely ~(150)Nd(alpha,n)~(153)Sm, was also investigated. The resulting possible yield is much lower than via the conventional (n,gamma) method, but the product is in no-carrier-added form.