Feasibility study for PET radioisotope production with plasma focus device

Short-life radioisotopes (SLR) s such as 18F, 15O, 13N and 11B have been generated with a PF machine using 1-14 MeV (10¹² per pulse) for 10B, 14N, and 16N. SLRs are simulated with GEANT4.10.7 and MCNPX codes. The elements are calculated to consist of flux, deposit, activity, rate of radioisotope produced, and radiation. In this paper, arguments are represented showing that a modest-sized PF machine using a 50 -75kJ fast capacitor bank when operated at pulse frequencies of 1-10Hz can produce SLRs/pulse. This paper reports the results of testing a PF as a generator of SLRs with dual applications for (i) secondary radioactive nuclear beams ion sources (Z<35), and (ii) as a generator of radioisotopes for biomedicine (Z<10) and/or PET imaging. The calculated sufficient thickness – energy for the proton (H⁺) beam collision with SRIM 2011 code has been done. The results of the study aimed to evaluate the production of SLRs such as 11C, 13 N, and 15O. The obtained results with modified Iranian Sun Mather (IS) type DPF geometers are discussed and presented.   

This is a theoretical study. It is useful to use the results of this study for optimizing the device parameters for real experiences.