Production of high purity $^{52g}$Mn from $^{nat}$V targets with $\alpha$-beams at cyclotrons

TL;DR

This study explores an alternative method for producing high-purity $^{52g}$Mn using alpha beams on natural vanadium targets, comparing it with traditional chromium-based methods and highlighting potential advantages in contaminant reduction.

Contribution

The paper introduces and evaluates the $^{nat}$V($ extalpha$,x)$^{52g}$Mn reaction as a new production route, demonstrating its potential to produce purer $^{52g}$Mn with fewer contaminants.

Findings

Lower $^{54}$Mn contaminant production compared to chromium targets

Significant variability in existing cross-section data

Need for more precise experimental measurements

Abstract

Radioisotope $^{52g}$Mn is of special interest for multimodal imaging. Using state-of-art nuclear reaction codes, we study the alternative nuclear reaction route $^{nat}$V($\alpha$,x)$^{52g}$Mn in comparison with the standard production routes based upon the use of chromium targets. The integral yields of $^{52g}$Mn and contaminants have been evaluated. The main outcome of this investigation is that the production of the main contaminant isotope $^{54}$Mn is expected to be lower than with $^{nat}$Cr. The study also reveals a large spread in the cross-section data set and points out the need of more precise measurements of the reaction $^{nat}$V($\alpha$,x)$^{52g}$Mn as well as the need of a more accurate theoretical description.