Excitation function of the18O(p,n)18F nuclear reaction from threshold up to 30 MeV

Abstract

The available experimental data on the most common route for the production of18F, viz.18O(p,n)18F reaction, obtained both via neutron spectral studies and activation measurements, were critically reviewed. In some energy regions the cross section database was found to be rather weak or discrepant. In order to fill the gaps and to clear some of the discrepancies, the excitation function was remeasured from threshold up to 30 MeV using different solid and gas targets containing highly enriched18O. For this purpose a van de Graaff machine (Ep<4 MeV) and several cyclotrons (Ep= 4-30 MeV) were utilized. The new experimental data help to prepare a recommended data set. AtEp= 14 MeV the integral yield of18F calculated from the new excitation curve is slightly higher than that from the hitherto accepted data set; atEp> 14 MeV the yields reported here are new.