The Production of 13N Using Beam-Target D-3He Fusion Reactions
Fusion Science and Technology / Volume 47 / Number 4 / May 2005 / Pages 1245-1249
Technical Paper / Fusion Energy - Nonelectric Applications / dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST05-A858
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The D-3He fusion reaction has been used to produce medical radioisotopes using the University of Wisconsin Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusion Device. The high-energy 14.7 MeV proton generated from the reaction can activate materials for isotope production. The traditional IEC setup has been altered to generate medical isotopes using beam-target D-3He fusion. Beam target D-3He reactions in a thin-walled, water-cooled, stainless steel tube were used to create 13N, an isotope used in Positron Emission Tomography. At a maximum ion energy of 85 keV, 1.0 nCi of 13N was created as a proof of principle experiment. A scaled-up version of this concept may provide for a smaller, less expensive radioisotope generator for future commercial needs.
