A novel dual-chamber cyclotron target for simultaneous production of F-18 and P-32

This study presents a novel cyclotron-based method for the simultaneous production of fluorine-18 (F-18) and phosphorus-32 (P-32) using a dual-chamber target system. Monte Carlo simulations with PHITS and DCHAIN were employed to model F-18 production via the ¹⁸O(p,n)¹⁸F reaction in an H₂¹⁸O target and secondary P-32 production through the ³²S(n,p)³²P reaction in a sulfur-filled chamber. Four geometric configurations were analyzed to optimize neutron flux and isotope yields. The most effective design (0.75 cm × 1.20 cm) yielded 2.2342 ± 0.0008 GBq/μAh of F-18 and 0.0261 ± 0.0026 MBq/μAh of P-32, with radionuclidic impurities remaining below 0.1 %. A conservative ±10 % uncertainty was applied to P-32 yields to account for modeling variation in secondary neutron flux, while F-18 uncertainties reflect PHITS statistical precision. Additional simulations at 8-13 MeV confirmed 13 MeV as the optimal energy within the DECY-13 cyclotron's capabilities. Thermal and structural analyses using ANSYS confirmed safe operation at 25 μA for 1 h, without exceeding material or target limits. The proposed system provides a compact and efficient solution for co-producing F-18 and P-32, potentially enhancing radioisotope production workflows in medical and research settings.