Nuclear model analysis and optimization of production data of the medically interesting 66,67,68 Ga via alpha induced reactions on 63,65 Cu targets.

Evaluation of the 63Cu(α,n)66Ga, 65Cu(α,2n) 67Ga and 65Cu(α,n)68Ga reactions was done to study the production of medical radionuclides 66Ga, 67Ga and 68Ga respectively. 63Cu(α,2n)65Ga and 65Cu(α,3n)66Ga reactions were also evaluated for the estimation of radioisotopic impurities. Cross section data of each reaction were compiled and normalized to the standard values of decay data and monitor reaction. To check the consistency of the literature data, three nuclear model calculations were performed, using nuclear model codes; TAYLS 1.9, ALICE-IPPE, and EMPIRE 3.2. A well-developed evaluation methodology based on the normalized experimental data and nuclear model calculations was used to generate the statistically fitted cross sections. From the fitted cross sections, thick target yields for each reaction were calculated for the estimation of radioisotopic impurities. Finally, a suitable energy region for the production of 66Ga, 67Ga and 68Ga was suggested with a minimum level of radioisotopic impurities.

Evaluation of nuclear reaction cross sections for optimization of production of the important non-standard positron emitting radionuclide 89Zr using proton and deuteron induced reactions on 89Y target.

89Zr (T1/2 = 3.27 d) is an important ß+-emitting radionuclide of zirconium used in immuno PET. The excitation functions of the 89Y(d,2n)89Zr and 89Y(p,n)89Zr reactions were analyzed to deduce the optimum conditions for the high purity production of 89Zr. The nuclear model codes ALICE-IPPE, EMPIRE 3.2 and TALYS 1.9 were used to check the consistency and reliability of the experimental data. A polynomial fit to the chosen data for each reaction gave the excitation function, which was then used for the integral yield calculation of the product. The amount of the major radioactive impurity 88Zr was precisely analyzed for both the proton and the deuteron induced reactions on the 89Y target.