$^{232}$Th(d,4n)$^{230}$Pa cross-section measurements at ARRONAX facility for the production of $^{230}$U
Résumé
Introduction: 226Th (T1/2 = 31 min) is a promising therapeutic radionuclide since results, published in 2009, showed that it induces leukemia cells death and activates apoptosis pathways with higher efficiencies than 213Bi. 226Th can be obtained via the 230U α decay. This study focuses on the 230U production using the 232Th(d,4n)230Pa(β−)230U reaction.
Methods: Experimental cross sections for deuteron-induced reactions on 232Th were measured from 30 down to 19 MeV using the stacked-foil technique with beams provided by the ARRONAX cyclotron. After irradiation, all foils (targets as well as monitors) were measured using a high-purity germanium detector.
Results: Our new 230Pa cross-section values, as well as those of 232Pa and 233Pa contaminants created during the irradiation, were compared with previous measurements and with results given by the TALYS code. Experimentally, same trends were observed with slight differences in orders of magnitude mainly due to the nuclear data change. Improvements are ongoing about the TALYS code to better reproduce the data for
deuteron-induced reactions on 232Th.
Conclusions: Using our cross-section data points from the 232Th(d,4n)230Pa reaction, we have calculated the thick-target yield of 230U, in Bq/μA·h. This value allows now to a full comparison between the different production routes, showing that the proton routes must be preferred.
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