ACTIVATION CROSS-SECTION MEASUREMENTS OF DEUTERON INDUCED REACTIONS ON NI-NAT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BEAM MONITORING AND PRODUCTION OF CU-61 FOR MEDICAL PURPOSE

Excitation functions for Co-55,Co-56,Co-57,Co-58, Ni-57 and Cu-60,Cu-6 1 radionuclides formed in deuteron induced reactions on Ni-nat have be en measured from their respective thresholds to 20 MeV using the stack ed-foil technique. The reactions were investigated as potentially usef ul for monitoring deuteron beams. Thick target yields of Cu-61 were ca lculated from the measured excitation function of the Ni-60(d,n)Cu-61- process. The relatively high yield of Cu-61 (E-d = 11 --> 1 MeV, 100 M Bq (2.7 mCi)/mu Ah), the low level of impurities and the low price of the isotopically enriched Ni-60 make the Ni-60(d,n)Cu-61 process a goo d alternative route for the production at small cyclotrons of the medi cally important beta(+)-emitting Cu-61 isotope.