Effects of admixture gas on the production of (18)F radioisotope in plasma focus devices

Ahmad Talaei; S M Sadat Kiai; A A Zaeem

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2010.06.012

Effects of admixture gas on the production of (18)F radioisotope in plasma focus devices

Appl Radiat Isot. 2010 Dec;68(12):2218-22. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2010.06.012. Epub 2010 Jun 15.

Authors

Ahmad Talaei¹, S M Sadat Kiai, A A Zaeem

Affiliation

¹ Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTR), Nuclear Science Research School, A.E.O.I., 14155-1339 Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 20579896
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2010.06.012

Abstract

In this article, the effect of admixture gas on the heating and cooling of pinched plasma directly related to the enhancement or reduction of (18)F production through the (16)O((3)He, p)(18)F is considered in the plasma focus devices. It is shown that by controlling the velocity of added Oxygen particles mixed with the working helium gas into the plasma focus chamber, one can increase the current and decrease the confinement time (plasma heating) or vice verse (plasma cooling). The highest level of nuclear activities of (18)F was found around 16% of the Oxygen admixture participation and was about 0.35 MBq in the conditions of 20 kJ, 0.1 Hz and after 2 min operating of Dena PF. However, in the same condition, but for the frequency of 1 Hz, the level of activity increased up to 3.4 MBq.