A theoretical study for the production of 32P radioisotope using neutrons from the 68Zn(p,n)68Ga reaction in a medical cyclotron

In the present study, the theoretical estimation of a combined production of 68Ga and 32P radioisotopes were investigated using a medical cyclotron. Protons are used in the 68Zn(p,n) reaction to produce the medical isotope 68Ga. The neutrons from the 68Zn(p,n)68Ga reaction are used to launch the 32S(n,p) reaction to produce 32P radioisotope. The cross section of these reactions were calculated using TALYS 1.9 code and compared with the available experimental results. SRIM-2013 code was used to calculate the stopping power and range of protons in the 68Zn target and GEANT4 toolkit was used to evaluate the proton and neutron flux within the 68Zn and 32S targets, respectively. The theoretical and simulation production yield of 68Ga and simulation production yield of 32P radioisotopes in each reaction were calculated. The results show that the Monte Carlo method can be used for the design and optimization the targets and calculation of production yield for 68Ga and 32P radioisotopes. •GEANT4 toolkit was used for the design and optimization the targets and calculation of production yield.•SRIM-2013 code was used to calculate the stopping power and range of protons in the 68Zn target.•The cross section of the 68Zn(p,n)68Ga and 32S(n,p)32P reactions have been calculated using TALYS 1.9 code.•The simulation and theoretical production yield of 68Ga has been calculated.•The simulation production yield of 32P has been calculated.