Feasibility of medical radioisotope production based on the proton beams at China Spallation Neutron Source

Abstract

The utilization of a proton beam from the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) for producing medical radioisotopes is appealing owing to its high current intensity and high energy. The medical isotope production based on the proton beam at the CSNS is significant for the development of future radiopharmaceuticals, particularly for the α-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. The production yield and activity of typical medical isotopes were estimated using the FLUKA simulation. The results indicate that the 300-MeV proton beam with a power of 100 kW at CSNS-II is highly suitable for proof-of-principle studies of most medical radioisotopes. In particular, this proton beam offers tremendous advantages for the large-scale production of alpha radioisotopes, such as ²²⁵Ac, whose theoretical production yield can reach approximately 57 Ci/week. Based on these results, we provide perspectives on the use of CSNS proton beams to produce radioisotopes for medical applications.