Investigation of the 66Zn(p,2pn)64Cu and 68Zn(p,x)64Cu nuclear processes up to 100 MeV:: Production of 64Cu

Cross-sections of the Zn-66(p,2pn)Cu-64 and Zn-68(p,X)64Cu nuclear processes were measured on highly enriched zinc targets using the stacked-foil activation technique up to 100 MeV. The new cross-sections were compared to literature data. The optimum energy range for production of Cu-64 was found to be 70 -> 35 MeV on Zn-66 and 37 -> 20 MeV on Zn-68. The thick-target yields were determined as 777 MBq/mu Ah (21.0 mCi/mu Ah) and 185 NtBq/mu Ah (5.0 mCi/mu Ah), respectively. The yields of the longer-lived contaminant copper radioisotopes (i.e. Cu-61 when using Zn-66 as target material and both Cu-61 and Cu-67 in the case of Zn-68 target material) were also calculated. The results obtained from the present study indicate that both reactions are suited for the production of Cu-64 at a medium energy cyclotron. The optimum energy ranges are also complementary therefore the potential to utilize tandem targetry exists. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.