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Water-cooled grid support for high-power irradiation with thin target windows
T E Barnhart1, A K Converse, K A Dabbs
1Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, 1500 North Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA. tbarnhart@students.wisc.edu
Summary
A novel thin window support system enhances the production of positron emitters using accelerators. This optimized system reliably handles high beam currents for efficient radioisotope generation.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Radiochemistry
- Accelerator Technology
Background:
- Positron emitters are crucial for medical imaging (e.g., PET scans).
- Accelerator production of these isotopes requires robust targetry systems.
- Existing systems face limitations with high beam currents and target foil integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a new thin window support system for accelerator-based production of positron emitters.
- To optimize the system for efficient operation with protons and deuterons at energies of 6-13 MeV.
- To ensure system reliability and performance under demanding operational conditions.
Main Methods:
- Designed an integrated support grid and cooling system.
- Optimized the design for 6-13 MeV proton and deuteron beams.
- Tested the water-cooled grid with beam currents exceeding 100 microA.
- Evaluated performance using a 3.1 MPa gas target with 25.4 micrometer aluminum foil.
Main Results:
- The water-cooled support grid operated reliably at >100 microA for 6 MeV protons and deuterons.
- The system demonstrated failure-free operation at >=50 microA with 13 MeV protons.
- Measured grid transmission (72%) closely matched the theoretical maximum yield (71 +/- 1%).
Conclusions:
- The new thin window support system is effective for accelerator production of positron emitters.
- The optimized design ensures reliable performance at high beam currents and energies.
- This advancement facilitates efficient and safe radioisotope production for medical applications.