New measurements of excitation functions of 186W(p,x) nuclear reactions up to 65 MeV. Production of 178W/178mTa generator

TL;DR

This paper reports new experimental measurements of proton-induced nuclear reaction excitation functions on natural tungsten up to 65 MeV, providing data for medical isotope production and comparing results with TALYS model predictions.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive set of excitation functions for multiple reactions on natW in the 32-65 MeV range, aiding in medical isotope production and nuclear data validation.

Findings

Measured cross sections for various natW(p,x) reactions.

Compared experimental data with TALYS model predictions.

Discussed production routes for medically relevant radionuclides.

Abstract

New experimental excitation functions for proton induced reactions on natW are presented in the 32- 65 MeV energy range. The cross sections for natW(p,xn)186,184,183,182m,182g,181Re, naW(p,x)178W, natW(p,x)183,182,180m,177,176,175Ta, 175Hf, 177Lu were measured via an activation method by using a stacked-foil irradiation technique and high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. The results were compared with predicted values obtained with the nuclear reaction model code TALYS (results taken from TENDL-2014 and TENDL-2015 on-line library). Production routes of the medically relevant radionuclides 186Re, 178W 178Ta and 181W are discussed.