Портативная радиометрическая система, ее основные элементы и варианты применения

The paper discusses the main elements of the developed portable radiometric system (PRS) and options for its application. Silicon photomultipliers were used in the development of the PRS detector modules. It made possible to significantly reduce their size. Such devices and systems find their application in solving various problems of medical radionuclide diagnostics that require an increased field of view, an extended research time range and mobility. The main goal of the work was to find the optimal configuration of the PRS elements to ensure its minimum size and, at the same time, the maximum radiation detection efficiency, taking into account the features of the objects under study and the kinetics of the processes occurring in them. In addition, an algorithm for selecting the minimum amount of activity of a radioactive preparation required for each study is additionally considered.

Cross sections and production yields of 117mSn and other radionuclides generated in natural and enriched antimony with protons up to 145 MeV

Cross sections of a prospective medical radionuclide 117mSn along with 113Sn, 120m,122Sb, 111,114mIn and 118,119m,119g,121m,121g,123mTe generated in natural and enriched antimony targets by protons in a wide energy range up to 145 MeV were determined. A stacked-foil technique followed by gas chemical separation and γ-ray spectrometry were used. The obtained data were compared with experimental values reported in literature and with theoretical computations by ALICE, TALYS and Cascade-Evaporation-Fission codes. Production yields of 117mSn and the main impurity 113Sn were estimated for different irradiation modes.

Harvesting 62Zn from an aqueous cocktail at the NSCL

The radionuclide 62Zn was obtained by “isotope harvesting” and separated from other co-produced species. The principle of a medical radionuclide generator was demonstrated by isolating pure 62Cu, which is generated by the decay of its parent 62Zn.

Uses of alpha particles, especially in nuclear reaction studies and medical radionuclide production

Alpha particles exhibit three important characteristics: scattering, ionisation and activation. This article briefly discusses those properties and outlines their major applications. Among others, α-particles are used in elemental analysis, investigation and improvement of materials properties, nuclear reaction studies and medical radionuclide production. The latter two topics, dealing with activation of target materials, are treated in some detail in this paper. Measurements of excitation functions of α-particle induced reactions shed some light on their reaction mechanisms, and studies of isomeric cross sections reveal the probability of population of high-spin nuclear levels. Regarding medical radionuclides, an overview is presented of the isotopes commonly produced using α-particle beams. Consideration is also given to some routes which could be potentially useful for production of a few other radionuclides. The significance of α-particle induced reactions to produce a few high-spin isomeric states, decaying by emission of low-energy conversion or Auger electrons, which are of interest in localized internal radiotherapy, is outlined. The α-particle beam, thus broadens the scope of nuclear chemistry research related to development of non-standard positron emitters and therapeutic radionuclides.