Evaluation of different production routes for the radio medical isotope 203Pb using TALYS 1.4 and EMPIRE 3.1 code calculations

203Pb radio-medical isotope has found great field of applications in nuclear medicine over the last decades. The previously measured excitation functions for the production of this isotope from different reactions were discussed, in order to confirm the most reasonable ones. Fitting curves were given for some reactions leading to the production of this isotope. The theoretical models TALYS 1.4, and EMPIRE 3.1 were used to construct the excitation functions for protons, deuterons, helium-3 and helium-4 induced reactions on Tl and Hg targets. The results of different models were compared with each other as well as with the collected experimental results, using the mean weighted deviation (F), and the relative variance (D) statistical parameters. Thick target yields were estimated, based on the discussed excitation functions, and compared with some measured values. •203Pb radioisotope has found great field of applications in nuclear medicine.•Previously measured excitation functions were collected and discussed.•Fitting curves were given for reactions leading to the production of this isotope.•Theoretical models were used to give excitation functions for different reactions.•TTY were estimated and compared with some measured values.