Proton induced reactions on natural tellurium up to 63 MeV: Data validation and investigation of possibility of ¹²⁴I production

Abstract

Excitation functions of the reactions ^natTe (p,xn)^{120g,121,123,124,125,126,128,13}I were measured from their respective thresholds up to 63 MeV via the stacked foil technique. Thin targets were prepared by a vacuum deposition method. Irradiations were performed using AVF 930 cyclotron at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. The concord and conflict between our excitation studies and the available literature data are shown. The high values of our cross sections for ¹²⁵I in comparison to some literature data are discussed. Our cross sections measurements validated some of the literature data obtained using enriched target isotopes. The integral yields of iodine radionuclides were deduced from the measured excitation curves. The estimated yield of ¹²⁴I via the ^natTe(p,xn) process over the energy range E_p= 57 → 53 MeV is 16.7 MBq/μA h. The level of the radionuclidic impurities ¹²⁵I and ¹²⁶I is, however, rather high, so that it is not meaningful to produce ¹²⁴I using ^natTe as target material.