Integration of High-Z Converter into Full-scale Production Target for Accelerator-based Production of ⁹⁹Mo

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1671046· OSTI ID:1671046

Strons, P. ^[1]; Bailey, J. ^[1]; Patapenka, A. ^[1]; Poremba, S. ^[1]; Chemerisov, S. ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

NorthStar Medical Technologies is planning to produce the 99Mo isotope via the photonuclear route. The Rhodotron accelerator designed by IBA will be used as an electron-beam source. The Rhodotron is an efficient recirculating accelerator, providing low energy dispersion and a low-emittance electron beam. The nominal beam power is assumed to be 120 kW at 40 MeV. In photonuclear production of ⁹⁹Mo, a high-power electron beam impinges on a helium-cooled Mo disk target. Electrons are converted into photons through the Bremsstrahlung process. Consequently, high-energy photons interact with the target nuclei, producing ⁹⁹Mo through the ¹⁰⁰Mo(γ, n)⁹⁹Mo reaction. Traditionally, photonuclear production is realized using high-Z material as the electron-to-photon converter. NorthStar plans not to use a high-Z converter in the initial production target design, but it may be interested in the increased production capabilities a high-Z converter can provide. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating a high-Z converter into the target design.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) - Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation - Office of Material Management and Minimization (M3)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1671046
• Report Number(s): ANL--20/13; 162163
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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