Positron source Ge‐68 through copper and bronze irradiated by carbon ions

Abstract

This communication reports on the formation of radioactive germanium isotope (G68) in copper (Cu) and bronze irradiated with Carbon ions (70MeV, 700 nA for 20 h) at the pelletron facility at TIFR, Mumbai. The irradiated targets were analyzed by gamma spectroscopy using HPGe detector and end point energy using GM counter. By analysis of gamma spectrum, it has been observed that Ge68 isotope along with some other isotopes like Se75 (119 days), Ge66 (2.26 days), Ga74 (8.12 minutes), As69 (15.2 minutes), Co60 (1925days), Zn65 (243days), Ga68 (67.7 minutes) were formed as estimated by PACE Code calculations. These results show that both Cu and bronze have contributed to Ge68 production but the irradiated bronze is found to form a good positron emitter in comparison to that of irradiated copper. The beta end point energy of Ge68 estimated by GM counter has been found to be 1.80 MeV. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)