The production of 13N using beam-target D-3HE fusion reactions

The D-He-3 fusion reaction has been used to produce medical radioisotopes using the University of Wisconsin Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusion Device. The high-energy 14.7 MeV proton generated from the reaction can activate materials for isotope production. The traditional IEC setup has been altered to generate medical isotopes using beam-target D-He-3 fusion. Beam target D-He-3 reactions in a thin-walled, water-cooled, stainless steel tube were used to create N-13, an isotope used in Positron Emission Tomography. At a maximum ion energy of 85 keV 1.0 nCi of N-13 was created as a proof of principle experiment. A scaled-up version of this concept may provide for a smaller, less expensive radioisotope generator for future commercial needs.