Converting an AEG Cyclotron to H{sup -} Acceleration and Extraction

Journal Article · Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3120083· OSTI ID:21289581

Ramsey, Fred; Carroll, Lewis; Rathmann, Tom; Huenges, Ernst; Bechtold, Matthias Mentler Volker ^[1]

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1. Carroll and Ramsey Associates, Berkeley, CA Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Florham Park, NJ (Germany)

Clinical Trials are under way to evaluate agents labeled with the nuclide {sup 225}Ac and its decay product {sup 213}Bi, in targeted alpha-immuno-therapy. {sup 225}Ac can be produced on a medium-energy cyclotron via the nuclear reaction {sup 226}Ra(p,n){sup 225}Ac. To demonstrate proof-of-principle, a vintage AEG cyclotron, Model E33, with an internal target, had been employed in a pilot production program at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). To enhance production capability and further support the clinical studies, the TUM facility has recently been refurbished and upgraded, adding a new external beam-line, automated target irradiation and transport systems, new laboratories, hot cells, etc.. An improved high-power rotating target has been built and installed. The AEG cyclotron itself has also been modified and upgraded to accelerate and extract H{sup -} ions. We have designed, built, and tested a new axial Penning-type ion source which is optimized for the production of H{sup -} ions. The ion source has continued to evolve through experiment and experience. Steady improvements in materials and mechanics have led to enhanced source stability, life-time, and H{sup -} production. We have also designed and built a precision H{sup -} charge-exchange beam-extraction system which is equipped with a vacuum lock. To fit within the tight mechanical constraint imposed by the narrow magnet gap, the system incorporates a novel chain-drive foil holder and foil-changer mechanism. The reconfigured cyclotron system has now been in operation for more than 1 year. Three long-duration target irradiations have been conducted. The most recent bombardment ran 160 continuous hours at a beam on target of {approx}80 microamperes for a total yield of {approx}70 milli-curies of {sup 225}Ac.

• OSTI ID: 21289581
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1099, Issue 1; Conference: CAARI 2008: 12. international conference on application of accelerators in research and industry, Fort Worth, TX (United States), 10-15 Aug 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3120083; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ACTINIUM 225
BEAM CURRENTS
BEAM EXTRACTION
BEAM PRODUCTION
BEAM TRANSPORT
BISMUTH 213
CHARGE EXCHANGE
CYCLOTRONS
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
GERMAN FR ORGANIZATIONS
HYDROGEN 1 MINUS BEAMS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
PENNING ION SOURCES
PROTON REACTIONS
RADIOTHERAPY
RADIUM 226
RADIUM 226 TARGET