Photonuclear production of nuclear isomers using bremsstrahlung induced by laser-wakefield electrons

In this study,we theoretically investigate the feasibility of using laser-wakefield accelerated(LWFA)electrons for the photonuclear measurement of nuclear isomers according to the characteristics of the electrons obtained from LWFA experiments conducted at the Compact Laser-Plasma Accelerator(CLAPA)laboratory.The experiments at the CLAPA show that a stable electron beam with an energy of 78-135 MeV and a charge of 300-600 pC can be obtained.The bremsstrahlung spectra were simulated using Geant4,which suggests that a bremsstrahlung source with a peak intensity of 10^(19) photons/s can be generated.Theoretical calculations of isomer production cross sections from the photonuclear reactions on six target nuclei,^(197)Au,^(180)Hf,^(159)Tb,^(115)In,^(103)Rh,and ^(90)Zr,were performed and compared with the available experimental data in EXFOR,which suggest that further experiments are required for a series of photonuclear reaction channels.Flux-averaged cross sections and isomer ratios(IR)resulting from such bremsstrahlung sources are theoretically deduced.The results suggest that IR measurements can be used to constrain nuclear components,such asγstrength function and optical model potential.In addition,the detection of the decay characteristics was evaluated with Geant4 simulations.The use of the LWFA electron beam and its bremsstrahlung for photonuclear studies involving nuclear isomers is anticipated.

Progress of photonuclear cross sections for medical radioisotope production at the SLEGS energy domain

Photonuclear reactions using a laser Compton scattering(LCS)gamma source provide a new method for producing radioisotopes for medical applications.Compared with the conventional method,this method has the advantages of a high specific activity and less heat.Initiated by the Shanghai Laser Electron Gamma Source(SLEGS),we conducted a survey of potential photonuclear reactions,(γ,n),(γ,p),and(γ,γ')whose cross sections can be measured at SLEGS by summarising the experimental progress.In general,the data are rare and occasionally inconsistent.Therefore,theoretical calculations are often used to evaluate the production of medical radioisotopes.Subsequently,we verified the model uncertainties of the widely used reaction code TALYS-1.96,using the experimental data of the^(100)Mo(γ,n)^(99)Mo,^(65)Cu(γ,n)^(64)Cu,and^(68)Zn(γ,p)^(67)Cu reactions.

A Photonuclear Reaction Model Based on IQMD in Intermediate-Energy Region

A photonuclear reaction transport model based on an isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics model （IQMD） is presented in the intermediate energy region, which is named as GiQMD in this study. Methodology to simulate the course of the photonuclear reaction within the IQMD frame is described to study the photo- absorption cross section and π meson production, and the simulation results are compared with some available experimental data as well as the Giessen Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model.

A data-based photonuclear simulation algorithm for determining specific activity of medical radioisotopes

For simulating more accurately neutron or proton production from photonuclear reactions,a data-based photonuclear reaction simulation algorithm has been developed.Reliable photonuclear cross sections from evaluated or experimental database are chosen as input data.For checking the validity of the use of the data-based photonuclear algorithm,benchmarking simulations are presented in detail.We calculate photonuclear cross sections or reaction yield for ~9Be,^(48)Ti,^(133)Cs,and ^(197)Au and compare them with experimental data in the region of incident photon energy below ~30 MeV.While Geant4 can hardly reproduce photonuclear experimental data,results obtained from the data-based photonuclear algorithm are found in good agreement with experimental measurements.Potential application in estimation of specific activity of radioisotopes is further discussed.We conclude that the developed data-based photonuclear algorithm is suitable for an accurate prediction of photoninduced neutron or proton productions.

Isomeric pair 95m,g Nb in the photonuclear reactions on natMo at the bremsstrahlung end-point energy of 38–93 MeV

The ^(nat)Mo(γ,xnp)^(95m,g)Nb photonuclear reaction was studied using the electron beam from the NSC KIPT linear accelerator LUE-40.The experiment was performed using the activation and off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique.The experimental isomeric yield ratio(IR) was determined for the reaction products ^(95m,g)Nb at the bremsstrahlung end-point energy E_(γmax) range of 38-93 MeV.The obtained values of IR are in satisfactory agreement with the results of other studies and extend the range of previously known data.The theoretical values of the yields Y_(m,g)(E_(γmax)) and the IR for the isomeric pair ^(95m,g)Nb from the ^(nat)Mo(γ,xnp) reaction were calculated using the partial cross-sections σ(E) from the TALYS1.95 code for six different level density models.For the investigated range of E_(γmax),the theoretical dependence of IR on energy was confirmed-the IR smoothly increases with increasing energy.The comparison showed a noticeable difference(more than 3.85 times) in the experimental IR relative to all theoretical estimates.

Transmutation of nuclear wastes using photonuclear reactions triggered by Compton backscattering photons at the Shanghai laser electron gamma source

Based on the facility of the Shanghai Laser Electron Gamma Source （SLEGS）, the transmutation for nuclear wastes such as 137^Cs and 129^I is investigated. It is found that nuclear waste can be transmuted efficiently via photonuclear reaction triggered by gamma photons generated from Compton backscattering between CO2 laser photons and 3.5 GeV electrons. The nuclear activities of 137^Cs and 129^I are evaluated and compared with the results of transmutation triggered by bremsstrahlung gamma photons driven by ultra intense laser. Due to the better character of gamma photon spectrum as well as the high brightness of gamma photons, the transmutation rate of Compton backscattering method is much higher than that of the bremsstrahlung method.

Cross-sections of photonuclear reactions ^(65)Cu(γ, n)^(64)Cu and ^(63)Cu(γ, xn)^(63−x)Cu in the energy range E_(γmax) = 35–94 MeV

The flux-averaged cross-sections<σ(E_(γmax))>for the reactions^(65)Cu(γ,n)^(64)Cu,^(63)Cu(γ,n)^(62)Cu,^(63)Cu(γ,2n)^(61)Cu,and^(63)Cu(γ,3n)^(60)Cu have been measured within the bremsstrahlung end-point energy E_(γmax)range of 35–94 MeV.The experiments were performed with the electron beam from the NSC KIPT linear accelerator LUE-40 with the use of the activation and off-lineγ-ray spectrometric techniques.Theoretical calculation of the flux-average cross-sections<σ(E_(γmax))>_(th)was conducted using the cross-sectionσ(E)values from the TALYS1.95 code,run with default options.It is shown that the experimental average cross-sections for the reactions^(65)Cu(γ,n)^(64)Cu,^(63)Cu(γ,n)^(62)Cu,and^(63)Cu(γ,2n)^(61)Cu are systematically higher than the theoretical estimates based on the TALYS1.95 code.The obtained<σ(E_(γmax))values supplement the data of different laboratories for the(γ,n)and(γ,2n)reactions of^(63)Cu and^(65)Cu.For the reaction^(63)Cu(γ,3n)^(60)Cu,the values of<σ(E_(γmax))>were measured for the first time.

Effective extraction of photoneutron cross-section distribution using gamma activation and reaction yield ratio method

Photoneutron cross-section(PNCS)data are important in various current and emerging applications.Although a few sophis-ticated methods have been developed,there is still an urgent need to study the PNCS data.In this study,we propose the extraction of PNCS distributions using a combination of gamma activation and reaction yield ratio methods.To verify the validity of the proposed extraction method,experiments for generating^(62,64)Cu and^(85m,87m)Sr isotopes via laser-induced pho-toneutron reactions were performed,and the reaction yields of these isotopes were obtained.Using the proposed extraction method,the PNCS distributions of^(63)Cu and^(86)Sr isotopes(leading to^(85m)Sr isotope production)were successfully extracted.These extracted PNCS distributions were benchmarked against available PNCS data or TALYS calculations,demonstrating the validity of the proposed extraction method.Potential applications for predicting the PNCS distributions of the 30 iso-topes are further introduced.We conclude that the proposed extraction method is an effective complement to the available sophisticated methods for measuring and evaluating PNCS data.

200MeV电子直线加速器隧道内灰尘的活化

高能电子直线加速器隧道内的灰尘会通过光核反应、中子核反应而被活化。灰尘活化产生的放射性核素可能引起检修工作人员的内照射。本文简要介绍中国科技大学国家同步辐射实验室 2 0 0MeV电子直线加速器隧道内不同地点灰尘的活化现状 。

用(γ,n)反应生产放射性药物^(123)I的研究

从理论和实验上对光核反应生成放射性药物~１２３Ｉ进行了研究，给出了有关^(１２４)Ｘｅ（γ，ｎ）^(１２３)Ｘｅ→^(１２３)Ｉ的理论计算公式和计算结果。描述了利用合肥国家同步辐射实验室２００ＭｅＶ电子直线加速器的束流和在其末端建立的实验装置。文中给出了实验得到的反应产物的放射性活度、γ射线的谱图以及化学纯度分析结果。实验结果表明：若用纯的^(１２４)Ｘｅ进行生产，在该加速器上经两个半小时照射，将可得到１８．５ＧＢｑ以上的^(１２３)Ｉ药物。

光中子在现代放射治疗领域的研究进展

随着各种医用加速器新技术的提高和肿瘤患者数量的急剧增加,放射治疗已经成为治疗肿瘤的主要手段之一。医用加速器技术的不断进步,始终围绕着照射肿瘤的同时最大限度地保护正常器官而发展,但仍无法解决由于高能射线在治疗患者时所带来的辐射污染。高能粒子产生的次级粒子如光子、光中子及质子等对人体组织产生的生物效应同样不可忽略,并逐渐受到重视和广泛的研究。由于加速器机头内部构造的金属元素为铅,靶区主要为钨,光子能量达到>7 Me V时,会超过光核反应阈值从而产生中子,这一反应称为光核反应。国外放疗机构对光中子产生的剂量开展了广泛研究。基于参与复杂相互作用的粒子特点,通过蒙特卡罗模拟和实验测量两个途径来研究医用加速器产生的光中子通量和能谱等物理量。由于医用加速器设计不同(主要是机头内部),性能也有很大差别,因此光中子的通量、能谱和剂量也有不同的分布规律。在文献评阅的基础上,从蒙特卡罗模拟和实验测量两个方面阐述目前对医用加速器产生光中子的研究现状以及放射治疗过程中的辐射防护和引发第二原发癌的物理因素。

银活化探测系统测量X光机中(γ,n)中子注量实验研究

介绍了一种在144keV^2.5MeV具有较平坦的能量响应的银活化探测系统,它采用特殊慢化体结构。将该探测器初步应用到了12MeV LIA的中子测量中,给出了中子产额的初步结果,中子产额分布在2.6×109~3.7×109个/脉冲。

利用光致裂变中子响应曲线确定铀材料丰度

用无损分析方法确定铀材料同位素丰度是深度核裁军核查技术中的一个具有挑战性的问题。本文通过分析和数值模拟研究了利用高能光子确定铀材料丰度的可能性。通过建立简化模型研究了反演铀材料丰度问题的方法、物理基础和测量条件。通过利用Monte-Carlo粒子输运程序对光子和中子的输运过程进行模拟,得到不同测量条件下的中子强度与铀材料丰度的关系。中子强度和铀材料丰度之间的关系曲线表明:对于已知结构的铀部件,铀材料丰度可以通过对比中子注量率和已知的光子中子关系曲线确定;对于未知结构的铀部件,该部件中铀材料丰度可以通过测量中子对不同能量光子响应曲线的形状参数得到。

通过^（19）F（γ，n）^（18）F反应用有机氟化物制备^（18）F

以有机氟化物作为靶材料，通过光核反应制备１８Ｆ．用０．０１ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１ＫＯＨ水溶液提取１８ＳＦ，因所用有机氟化物不同，水提取１８Ｆ收率为９％－６８％。由于辐照过程中靶物质的辐射分解，在现有条件下，实验所获得的１８Ｆ比活度为１０１２Ｂｑ（ｍｏｌ１９Ｆ－）－１，低于脑显影所需的１８Ｆ比活度．但用于其它方面的研究，１８Ｆ的量是足够的。

利用光核反应产生几种缺中子核素

利用２００ＭｅＶ电子直线加速器产生的轫致辐射束诱发（γ，ｎ）、（γ，２ｎ）、（γ，αｎ）三种光核反应，得到了１１Ｃ、１５Ｏ、１８Ｆ、２２Ｎａ、６１Ｃｕ、６２Ｃｕ、６４Ｃｕ等七种核素，推算了饱和活度和Ｃ与Ｆ的探测限。

^(142-146,148,150)Nd光核反应理论计算

基于我国自主研制的核反应理论计算程序MEND-G,针对200 MeV能量范围内光子诱发^(142-146,148,150)Nd的核反应数据开展了系统的理论计算研究。首先分析了现有的多种光核反应测量数据,筛选出以实验数据作为理论计算依据;利用8种经典的光子强度函数模型和准氘模型,描述光子吸收截面;在此基础上,采用MEND-G程序对^(142-146,148,150)Nd开展光核反应理论计算,并通过优化6个Gilbert-Cameron能级密度参数,得到适用于Nd天然稳定同位素的普适能级密度,同时针对^(142,143)Nd得到与实验结果符合更好的定域能级密度参数。通过对分光中子出射截面的系统分析,建立了ENDF-6格式的光核反应数据。结果表明,推荐的光核数据合理,与实验测量数据一致性较好,该数据已收录在CENDL-3.2光核子库中。

使用200MeV电子束及其轫致辐射的实验条件研究

用光核反应产生的１１Ｃ和１８Ｆ作为指示剂，从实验上确定２００ＭｅＶ电子束轫致辐射的最佳转换靶（钨片）厚度为４．２ｍｍ（１８Ｆ）或５．２ｍｍ（１１Ｃ），角分布半宽度为３°．研究了在转换靶与样品靶相对距离改变时该轫致辐射在辐照室不同高度处光通量的变化，并指出利用它们开展凝聚态物理和辐射化学研究时应注意辐射热。

Photo-transmutation based on resonance γ-ray source

High intensity γ-ray source can be obtained through resonance reaction induced by protons. In this work, the possibility of using such high intensity MeV-range γ-ray source to transmute nuclear waste is investigated through Mont Carlo simulation.197 Au(γ, n)196Au experiment is performed to obtain the transmutation rate and compared with the simulation result. If the current of the proton beam is 10 mA at the resonance energy of 441 keV, with the γ photons emitted from7 Li(p, γ)8 Be, then the corresponding transmutation yield for129I in 2π direction can reach 9.4 × 109 per hour. The result is compared with that of LCS γ-ray source.

Determinations of ^(171)Er half-life and some ^(171)Tm transition energies

The neutrons have been captured by Erbium nuclei which were received by using clinical electron linear accelerator. In this experiment, the possibility of the neutron capture process has been observed because of emitted neutrons appearing in the experimental area. In particular,neutron capture of ^(170)Er nucleus has been observed. After the neutron capture of ^(170)Er nucleus, the unstable ^(171)Er has been formed and decayed into the ^(171)Tm. By using this reaction path, some transition energies of ^(171)Tm obtained from the residual activity measurements and the half-life of ^(171)Er have been determined, and they are in agreement with adopted values in the literature.

Photoactivation experiment of 197Au（γ, n） performed with 9.17-MeV γ-ray from 13C（p, γ）14N

High energy γ-ray can be used for nuclear waste transmutation by using the giant dipole resonance(GDR). The photonuclear reaction 197Au(γ, n) is known as a standard for studies on photoactivation experiments. The previous experiments on 197Au(γ, n) have been performed with bremsstrahlung, positron annihilation in flight or laser Compton scattering γ-ray.In this work, a new mono-energetic γ-ray source based on 13C(p,γ)^14N reaction is used to measure the cross section of 197Au(γ, n) and the measured value is compared with the results obtained with other ways.