Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Production of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass
Published on: January 4, 2016
Large-scale production of 88Y via the (γ,n) photonuclear reaction
G F Steyn1, F Szelecsényi2, M A Motetshwane3
1iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences, National Research Foundation, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa.
Abstract:
The feasibility of large-scale production of 88Y via the 89Y(γ,n)88Y photonuclear reaction has been investigated. In recent times, a new generation of high-energy Rhodotron, in conjunction with gas-cooled stacked targets, revolutionized the photonuclear production of another radionuclide, namely 99Mo. Predictions by means of Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess the suitability of those techniques and infrastructure also for 88Y production. It is shown that recent advances in technology make multi-Ci productions of 88Y (i.e. many tens to hundreds of GBq) indeed feasible. A product suitable for use in hydraulic fracturing and/or other geophysical applications can be obtained.
Related Concept Videos
Nuclear Transmutation
Types of Radioactivity
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Nuclear Stability
To hold positively charged protons together in the...
Nuclear Fusion
A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...

