Investigation of ¹²³I production using electron accelerator

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Radiochemistry
• Accelerator Technology

Background:

• Iodine-123 (¹²³I) is a crucial radioisotope for medical imaging.
• Existing production methods may have limitations in yield or accessibility.
• High-intensity photon beams offer a potential alternative for radioisotope production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of producing ¹²³I using bremsstrahlung photons.
• To establish and validate a novel production method at the A.I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory.
• To optimize the production process for efficient ¹²³I yield.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the LUE50 linear electron accelerator to generate high-intensity bremsstrahlung photons.
• Investigated the ¹²⁴Xe(γ,n)¹²³Xe→¹²³I nuclear reaction pathway.
• Calculated reaction cross-sections using TALYS 1.6 and EMPIRE 3.2 nuclear codes.
• Optimized target thickness using GEANT4 simulations.

Main Results:

• Successfully established and demonstrated a viable method for ¹²³I production.
• Calculated cross-sections provide theoretical validation for the chosen nuclear reaction.
• GEANT4 simulations determined optimal target parameters for enhanced production.
• Achieved a normalized yield of 143 Bq/(mg·μA·h) for ¹²³I.

Conclusions:

• The use of high-intensity bremsstrahlung photons from the LUE50 accelerator is a successful method for ¹²³I production.
• The investigated nuclear reaction and optimized parameters pave the way for efficient isotope generation.
• This approach offers a promising alternative for supplying ¹²³I for medical applications.