Saraswatula Venkata Suryanarayana

Production, separation and supply prospects of 67Cu with the development of fast neutron sources and photonuclear technology

Abstract Experimental investigations have been carried out on the production of a promising therapeutic radionuclide 67Cu via the 67Zn(n,p)67Cu, 68Zn(n,x)67Cu, and 68Zn(γ,p)67Cu reaction routes. Natural zinc metal foils were irradiated with 14.1 MeV neutrons and bremsstrahlung of end-point energy 15 MeV. Radioactivity levels of 67Cu and other radioisotopes co-produced were determined by the quantification of photo-peaks by off-line γ-ray spectrometry. No carrier added 67Cu was separated from the irradiated zinc by solvent extraction. Yields >90% and high levels of radionuclidic purity were achieved. These studies indicate that the growth and development of intense fast neutron sources and photonuclear technology, will possibly aid in the sustained supply of 67Cu.

Measurement and uncertainty propagation of the (γ,n) reaction cross-section of 58Ni and 59Co at 15 MeV bremsstrahlung

Abstract Activation cross-section of photon-induced reaction on structural materials 58Ni and 59Co was measured at the bremsstrahlung endpoint energy 15 MeV from an S band electron linac. The uncertainties in the (γ,n) reaction cross-section of both 58Ni and 59Co were estimated by using the concept of covariance analysis. The cross-section of 58Ni(γ,n)57Ni reaction in the present work is slightly lower than the previous experimental data and the TENDL-2015 data. The cross-section of 59Co(γ,n)58Co reaction has been measured for the first time. However, the present experimental data of 59Co(γ,n)58Co reaction is very low in comparison to the TENDL-2015 and JENDL/PD-2004 data.

Determination of 55Mn(n,γ)56Mn reaction cross-section at the neutron energies of 1.12, 2.12, 3.12 and 4.12 MeV

Abstract The 55Mn(n,γ)56Mn reaction cross-sections at the neutron energies of 1.12, 2.12, 3.12 and 4.12 MeV were determined by using activation and off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique. The neutron energies of 1.12 and 2.12 MeV were generated from the 7Li(p,n) reaction by using the proton energies of 3 and 4 MeV from the folded tandem ion beam accelerator (FOTIA) at BARC. For the neutron energies of 3.12 and 4.12 MeV, the proton energies used were 5 and 6 MeV from the Pelletron facility at TIFR, Mumbai. The 115In(n,γ)116mIn reaction cross-section was used as the neutron flux monitor. The 55Mn(n,γ)56Mn reaction cross-section at the neutron energies of 4.12 MeV are reported for the first time, whereas at 1.12, 2.12 and 3.12 MeV, they are in between the literature data. The 55Mn(n,γ)56Mn reaction cross-section was also calculated theoretically by using the computer code TALYS 1.6 and EMPIRE 3.2.2. The experimental data of present work are found to be in between the theoretical values of TALYS and EMPIRE.