Accelerator Targets for Biomedical Isotope Production

With expanding application of positron emission tomography (PET) in diagnostic nuclearmedicine, there is need for low-cost, turnkey systems for PET isotope production. The applicantorganization has proposed to develop the "Nested High Voltage Generator" (NHVGTM), a new-generati-on, energy-efficient particle accelerator, that would generate 4.4 MeV proton and deuteron beams with1 mA current output. The capital cost, operating cost, and size of the NHVG are projected to be ten totwenty percent of that for biomedical cyclotrons currently used for PET isotope production. To bringthe NHVG to market as a PET isotope production instrument, targets compatible with its high beamcurrent and low particle energy must be engineered. Although the basic nuclear physics of PET isotopeproduction with low energy proton/deuteron beams is proven in the research literature, designparameters for high-beam-current targets are poorly understood. In Phase I, the applicants haveproposed to address feasibility by testing target designs and measuring isotope production yields fromNHVG irradiation.