Excitation functions of proton induced nuclear reactions on natural copper using a medium-sized cyclotron

Abstract

Summary Activation techniques have been used to measure the excitation functions of proton induced nuclear reactions on natural copper from their thresholds up to 27.5 MeV. The beam current was measured using a Faraday cup with secondary electron suppression, and the radioactivity of the products was determined via high-resolution gamma ray spectrometry. The data were compared with the data recommended by the IAEA wherever it was possible. A comparison of the new excitation functions with the theoretical calculations reported in the literature was undertaken to check the order of agreement between them. Good agreement was found for the results of 63Zn while the theoretical calculations overestimate the cross sections for 61Cu and 62Zn. The excitation function for the reaction natCu(p, x) 61Co was measured for the first time during this work. The integral yields of the radionuclides 62,63,65Zn, 61Cu and 61Co were calculated. 63Zn and 65Zn are produced over the whole energy range of 3 to 27.5 MeV and the yield gets saturated above 20 MeV. 62Zn, 61Cu and 61Co are produced at relatively high energies and have integral yield values between those of 63Zn and 65Zn. The relatively high yield of 62Zn is useful for the production of 62Zn/62Cu generator system.