(47)Ca production for (47)Ca/(47)Sc generator system using electron linacs

Shraddha Rane; Jason T Harris; Valeriia N Starovoitova

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.12.020

(47)Ca production for (47)Ca/(47)Sc generator system using electron linacs

Appl Radiat Isot. 2015 Mar:97:188-192. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.12.020. Epub 2014 Dec 31.

Authors

Shraddha Rane¹, Jason T Harris², Valeriia N Starovoitova³

Affiliations

¹ Idaho State University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA; Waste Control Specialists, Dallas, TX 75240, USA.
² Idaho State University, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
³ Idaho State University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA; Niowave Inc., Lansing, MI 48906, USA. Electronic address: valeriia@niowaveinc.com.

PMID: 25600103
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.12.020

Abstract

In this work we have studied the feasibility of photonuclear production of (47)Ca from (48)Ca for (47)Ca/(47)Sc generators. Photon flux distribution for electron beams of different energies incident on a tungsten converter was calculated using the MCNPX radiation transport code. The (47)Ca production rate dependence on electron beam energy was found and (47)Ca/(47)Sc yields were estimated for a 40MeV electron beam. It was shown that irradiating enriched targets with a 40MeV, 1mA beam will result in tens of MBq g(-1) (few mCi g(-1)) activity of (47)Sc. The results of the simulations were benchmarked by irradiating 22.5g of CaCl2 powder with a 39MeV electron beam incident on a tungsten converter. Measured (47)Ca/(47)Sc activities were found to be in very good agreement with the predictions.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.