Abstract
The optimum irradiation conditions were investigated for the production of 61Cu and 62Zn by alpha and 3He particle bombardment of natural nickel. Formation cross sections and thick-target yields were obtained for reaction products in the energy range of 10 to 40 MeV. For the production of 61Cu and 62Zn, the alpha particle bombardment was found superior to the 3He particle bombardment in so far as the yield was concerned.
When the incident alpha energy of 21 Me V was chosen, after 2.4 hours of cooling, 2.1 mCi/μA⋅h of 61Cu could be produced with less than 1 % of 60Cu contamination. For the production of 62Zn, when the incident alpha energy of 35 MeV and the target thickness of 57 mg /cm2 were chosen, 97, 5 μCi/μA⋅h of 62Zn could be produced. Radiochemical purity of 62Zn was the highest at 12 hours after the end of bombardment.
