Excitation function for natMo(p,x) reactions with covariance analysis

TL;DR

This study measures proton-induced reaction excitation functions on natural molybdenum with high precision, resolving previous data discrepancies and providing detailed covariance analysis relevant for medical isotope production.

Contribution

It provides new, precise excitation function data for natMo(p,x) reactions, including covariance analysis, addressing prior inconsistencies and aiding isotope production optimization.

Findings

Resolved discrepancies in 93mTc and 94gTc data

Provided covariance analysis for reaction cross sections

Observed significant differences for 89g+mZr production

Abstract

The excitation functions of proton induced reactions on natMo targets are measured using the activation technique followed by off-line {\gamma}-ray spectroscopy with improved precision. The experiment was performed at the BARC-TIFR Pelletron Linac Facility, Mumbai. Thin samples of natMo were irradiated with a proton beam of energies ranging from 13 to 22 MeV for measurements of various (p,x) cross sections, with an emphasis on the production of medical isotopes. The present data for 93mTc and 94gTc address and resolve the discrepancies in the existing data. The 93gTc radioisotope production is extracted with appropriate corrections for 93mTc contribution. While the measured cross sections for the production of 95gTc, 96g+mTc, 99mTc and 99Mo are consistent with the reported data, significant differences are observed for 89g+mZr. A comprehensive uncertainty analysis, including the correlation coefficients of the measured reaction cross sections is also presented.