Vross section studies on 64Cu with zinc target in the proton energy range from 141 down to 31 MeV

High specific activity Cu-64 is a radionuclide of increasing interest for PET imaging, as well as systemic and targeted radioimmunotherapy of tumours. The cross sections for production of Cu-64 from Zn target of natural isotopic composition were measured in the proton energy range from 141 down to 31 MeV. The stacked-foil technique was used at 160 MeV intersection point of INR proton-LINAC in Troitsk, Russia. Several Ga, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, V and Mn RNs were detected in Zn targets at the EOB. The activity of no-carrier-added Cu-64 was measured through its only gamma-emission of 1346 keV (0.47% intensity). To this purpose, it was necessary to carry out a selective radiochemical separation of Ga RNs from the bulk of irradiated Zn target and other RNs. Theoretical calculations of cross sections were carried out with the CEF model and HMS-ALICE hybrid model codes and are compared with the experimental values.