Cross sections of the reaction ²³¹Pa(d,3n)²³⁰U for the production of ²³⁰U/²³⁶Th for targeted α therapy

Journal Article · Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVC.80.054612· OSTI ID:21296506

Morgenstern, A; Bruchertseifer, F; Zielinska, B; Apostolidis, C ^[1]; Lebeda, O; Stursa, J ^[2]; Capote, R ^[3]; Sin, M ^[4]

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1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements, Post Office Box 2340, D-76125 Karlsruhe (Germany)
2. Nuclear Physics Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Public Research Institution, CZ-250 68 Rez (Czech Republic)
3. NAPC-Nuclear Data Section, International Atomic Energy Agency, A-1400 Vienna (Austria)
4. Nuclear Physics Department, University of Bucharest, Post Office Box MG-11, RO-70709 Bucharest-Magurele (Romania)

²³⁰U and its daughter nuclide ²²⁶Th are novel therapeutic nuclides for application in targeted α therapy of cancer. We investigated the feasibility of producing ²³⁰U/²²⁶Th via deuteron irradiation of ²³¹Pa according to the reaction ²³¹Pa(d,3n)²³⁰U. The experimental excitation function for a deuteron-induced reaction on ²³¹Pa is reported for the first time. Cross sections were measured using thin targets of ²³¹Pa prepared by electrodeposition and ²³⁰U yields were analysed using α spectrometry. Beam energies were calculated from measured beam orbits and compared with the values obtained via monitor reactions on aluminium foils using high-resolution γ spectrometry and IAEA recommended cross sections. Beam intensities were determined using a beam current integrator. The experimental cross sections are in excellent agreement with model calculations allowing for deuteron breakup using the EMPIRE 3 code. According to thick-target yields calculated from the experimental excitation function, the reaction ²³¹Pa(d,3n)²³⁰U allows the production of ²³⁰U/²²⁶Th at moderate levels.

• OSTI ID: 21296506
• Journal Information: Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics, Vol. 80, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.80.054612; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2813
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ALPHA SPECTROSCOPY
ALUMINIUM
BEAM CURRENTS
BEAMS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DEUTERONS
ELECTRODEPOSITION
EXCITATION FUNCTIONS
FOILS
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
IRRADIATION
NEOPLASMS
NEUTRON EMISSION
ORBITS
PROTACTINIUM 231
RADIOTHERAPY
RESOLUTION
THORIUM 226
URANIUM 230