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Photonuclear production of potassium‐38
Author(s) -
Cole Coye M.,
Gray Fred C.,
Meaburn G. Malcolm,
Stevenson John S.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.1637316
Subject(s) - potassium , tantalum , radiochemistry , potassium hydroxide , bremsstrahlung , pellets , chemistry , irradiation , linear particle accelerator , metal , electron , materials science , nuclear physics , physics , optics , composite material , beam (structure) , organic chemistry
Radioactive potassium‐38 has been produced by the photonuclear reactions39K(γ,n) 38 K and40Ca(γ,n p) 38 K , using the bremsstrahlung field developed by an electron linear accelerator. Non‐carrier‐free 38 K was produced by irradiating potassium hydroxide pellets for 30 min using 10 kW of 40 MeV electrons passing through a thick tantalum converter. Yields of 25–35 mCi 38 K per gram irradiated KOH were obtained. Carrier‐free 38 K was produced by similarly irradiating shredded calcium metal, obtaining 2–6 mCi per gram of calcium. In both cases, the target material was dissolved in HCl, neutralized, and prepared as sterile solutions of KCl for injection.