Nuclear reaction / Cross section / Excitation function / Integral yield / Radionuclidic purity / Highly enriched target material / Electrolytic deposition
SummaryExcitation functions of 54 Fe(d,n) 5S Co and 54 Fe(d,«) 52g Mn reactions were determined from their respective thresholds up to 13 MeV via the stacked-foil technique using natural as well as 99.85% enriched 54 Fe as target material. Thin samples were prepared by electrolytic deposition of ""Fe or M Fe on a Au-backing. From the measured cross sections the integral yields of 55 Co and 52s Mn were deduced. Due to its very low yield, the 54 Fe(d, a) 52g Mn process is not suitable for production of 52g Mn. The optimum energy range for the production of "Co via the 54 Fe(d, n)-process was found to be E d = 10 ->5 MeV, the 55 Co yield amounting to 32 MBq (0.86 mCi)^Ah and the level of 56 -57 Co impurities to <0.1%. The 54 Fe(d,n) 55 Co process on highly enriched M Fe is thus ideally suited for the production of high-purity 55 Co at a small cyclotron.