Experimental study of excitation functions for the deuteron induced reactions 64Zn(d,2p)64Cu and 64Zn(d,alphan)61Cu using the stacked-foil technique.

There is considerable, and growing, interest in the 64Cu radioisotope for application in Nuclear Medicine for PET imaging and targeted radiotherapy of tumours. We are investigating the cyclotron production of this isotope by way of deuteron bombardment of enriched 64Zn target material. In this study, experimental excitation functions for both the 64Zn(d,2p)64Cu and 64Zn(d,alphan)61Cu reactions up to 18.2 MeV deuteron energy have been measured using the stacked-foil technique. The deuteron energies in the various foils were calculated with the SRIM 2003 code and gamma-ray spectrometry was used to measure the activities of the various radioisotopes produced. Monitor foils were used to determine the deuteron beam current on the target stack. Theoretical excitation functions, calculated both with the Empire II code and with an updated version of the Alice code, were compared with the experimental results and a reasonable agreement was found. The experimental work was performed at the MC40 Cyclotron at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre at Ispra, Italy.

Gamma-ray spectrometric analysis of neutron irradiated golden sands.

A nondestructive method has been used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of elements such as Au, Cu, Ag in minerals and especially in golden sand. The induced radioactivity has been analyzed with a high resolution gamma spectrometer containing a Ge(Li) semiconductor detector type and a multichannel analyzer. The samples have been collected from the alluvia of the Mures and Somesul Mic river basins, proving the presence of gold and copper in small concentrations. These results have been correlated to previous data showing the existence of some gold mines in these zones. This nondestructive, rapid and highly sensitive method can be used for industrial processes [1] control and prospections. The use of a NaI(Tl) scintillation crystal for routine measurements of the (198)Au radioisotope type and the interferences by copper, silver and indium in the irradiated samples are discussed.

Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence properties of the 0.5P2O5-xBaO-(0.5-x)Li2O glass systems.

Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence properties of phosphate glasses doped with BaO and Li(2)O at various concentrations were studied. Lithium-doped glasses show a broad TL peak in the 200-300°C region with poor dosimetric characteristics. Barium-doped glasses feature at least two TL peaks, approximately at 200 and 400°C, which were attributed to Ba(2+) ions. They also produce a fast-decaying OSL signal correlated with the lower-temperature TL peak. Responses of both TL emissions to radiation doses up to 100 Gy are linear (R² >0.99). Due to its encouraging characteristics such as acceptable batch homogeneity, good measurement reproducibility and weak signal fading, the P2O5-xBaO glass can be considered as a candidate material for dosimetry in the high-dose range (>10 Gy).

Study of the excitation function for the deuteron induced reaction on 64Ni(d,2n) for the production of the medical radioisotope 64Cu.

The production of (64)Cu, a radioisotope of considerable interest for the application in nuclear medicine for PET imaging and radioimmunotherapy, was investigated by deuteron bombardment of enriched (64)Ni target up to E(d)=20.5 MeV. The experimental excitation function for the reaction (64)Ni(d,2n)(64)Cu was measured using the stacked foil irradiation technique followed by HPGe gamma-ray analysis at 1346 keV and is compared with earlier literature values. Cross-section data for the (64)Ni(d,p)(65)Ni reaction are determined for the first time. Thick target yields are derived and compared with results of other production routes.