Rm TE Research Articles

The 122 Te( 4 He, 3n) 123 Xe@ > β + , EC > 2.1 hr > 123 I Generator

The characteristics and applications of a ${}^{122}{\rm Te}({}^{4}{\rm He},\ 3n){}^{123}{\rm Xe}@>\beta ^{+},\ {\rm EC}>>{}^{123}{\rm I}$ generator for producing123 I are described. A 46-MeV external4 He beam was used for irradiation. The rate of production of123 I (i.e., based on the continuous collection of ${}^{123}{\rm Xe}$ during the irradiation) was dependent upon the irradiation conditions, and the crystalline state of the tellurium. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the topography of the ${}^{122}{\rm Te}$ as a function of the total alpha dose, of the dose rate, and of post-irradiation annealing. The conditions corresponding to different emanation rates of the ${}^{123}{\rm Xe}$ from the target have been evaluated. The ${}^{122}{\rm Te}$ target may be utilized to produce high purity carrier-free xenon-123: (1) as the precursor of high purity, carrier-free iodine-123, which is used in t...