Measurement and modelling of the cross sections for the reaction 230Th(3He,3n)230U

230U and its daughter nuclide 226Th are promising therapeutic nuclides for application in targeted alpha therapy of cancer. We investigated the feasibility of producing 230U/226Th via irradiation of 230Th with 3He particles according to the reaction 230Th(3He,3n)230U. The experimental excitation function for this reaction is reported for the first time. Cross sections were measured using thin targets of 230Th prepared by electrodeposition and 230U yields were analysed using alpha spectrometry. Beam intensities were obtained via monitor reactions on aluminium foils using high resolution gamma spectrometry and IAEA recommended cross sections. Incident particle energies were calculated using the SRIM 2003 code. The experimental cross sections for the reaction 230Th(3He,3n)230U are in good agreement with model calculations by the EMPIRE-3 code, once breakup and transfer reactions are properly considered in the incident channel. The obtained cross sections are too low to allow the production of 230U/226Th in clinically relevant levels.

MORGENSTERN Alfred;  ABBAS Kamel;  SIMONELLI Federica;  CAPOTE NOY R.;  SIN M.;  ZIELINSKA B.;  BRUCHERTSEIFER Frank;  APOSTOLIDIS Christos; 

2013-06-13

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

JRC80966

0556-2813,   

http://prc.aps.org/abstract/PRC/v87/i6/e064602,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC80966,   

10.1103/PhysRevC.87.064602,