Deuteron induced Tb-155 production, a theranostic isotope for SPECT imaging and auger therapy.

Several terbium isotopes are suited for diagnosis or therapy in nuclear medicine. Tb-155 is of interest for SPECT imaging and/or Auger therapy. High radionuclide purity is mandatory for many applications in medicine. The quantification of the activity of the produced contaminants is therefore as important as that of the radionuclide of interest. The experiments performed at the ARRONAX cyclotron (Nantes, France), using the deuteron beam delivered up to 34MeV, provide an additional measurement of the excitation function of the Gd-nat(d,x)Tb-155 reaction and of the produced terbium and gadolinium contaminants. In this study, we investigate the achievable yield for each radionuclide produced in natural gadolinium as a function of the deuteron energy. Other reactions are discussed in order to define the production route that could provide Tb-155 with a high yield and a high radionuclide purity. This article aims to improve data for the Gd-nat(d,x) reaction and to optimize the irradiation conditions required to produce Tb-155.

Cross section measurements of deuteron induced nuclear reactions on natural titanium up to 34 MeV.

Experimental cross sections for deuteron induced nuclear reactions on natural titanium were measured, using the stacked-foil technique and gamma spectrometry, up to 34 MeV with beams provided by the ARRONAX cyclotron. The experimental cross section values were monitored using the (nat)Ti(d,x)(48)V reaction, recommended by the IAEA. The excitation functions for (nat)Ti(d,x)(44m,46,47,48)Sc are presented and compared with the existing ones and with the TALYS 1.6 code calculations using default models. Our experimental values are in good agreement with data found in the literature. TALYS 1.6 is not able to give a good estimation of the production cross sections investigated in this work. These production cross sections of scandium isotopes fit with the new Coordinated Research Project (CRP) launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to expand the database of monitor reactions.

Cross section measurements of deuteron induced nuclear reactions on natural tungsten up to 34 MeV.

(186g)Re is a ß-/γ emitter of great interest for nuclear medicine. It has shown successful results on bone metastases palliation and has similar chemical properties as (99m)Tc, the most commonly used imaging agent. (186g)Re is routinely produced using rhenium target in nuclear reactor. Higher specific activity could be obtained using accelerators. In this paper, production cross section values are presented for the (nat)W(d,x)(186g)Re reaction up to 34MeV, using the stacked-foils method and gamma spectrometry. From this data set, the thick target production yield of (186g)Re is determined and compared with the validated values of the IAEA and also with the proton route. The production cross sections of the (nat)W(d,x)(183,182g,184m,184g,181)Re and (nat)W(d,x)(187)W reactions have also been determined. A good agreement is found with the literature. Our data are compared with the version 1.6 (December 2013) of the TALYS code which shows discrepancies both on the shape and on the amplitude for these deuteron induced reactions.