Evaluating Cross Sections of Gallium Isotopes Production Using proton and deuteron Irradiation

Abstract

In the present work, the production of the cross sections of three Gallium isotopes: 35 66 31Ga (t1 ⁄2 = 9.4h, β+ = 4.2MeV), 36 67 31Ga (t1 ⁄2=3.2617d, EC=100%) and 37 68 31Ga (t1 ⁄2 = 68min, Iβ+ = 89%) have been discussed. The Gallium isotopes have important applications in nuclear medicine, particularly in Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPET) imaging technique and used in tumors diagnosing. The production of irradiant Ga 66 , Ga 67 and Ga 68 is made by irradiation of an enriched Zinc target using proton and deuteron charged particles. Utilizing high cyclotron yield and low radionuclide impurities, the optimum cyclotron energy range has been chosen for the production of Gallium isotopes. The cross sections of (p,xn), (p,γ) and (d,xn) reactions for the production of Gallium isotopes have been evaluated depending upon the empirical data taken from EXFOR library, which is belonging to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Also the yield for each reaction has been evaluated