Advanced Thermosyphon Targets for Production of the 18F Radionuclide.

Abstract

Single phase and boiling batch water targets are the most common designs for the cyclotron production of 18F via the 18O(p,n)18F reaction. Thermosyphon targets have design and operating characteristics which enables higher power operation than conventional boiling targets of like size. Experiments and calculations were performed in order to characterize the performance of a 1.3 cc tantalum [18F]Target. The test target led to the development of a variety of computational techniques as well as experimental methods that will be used in future target design and optimization. Computational methods include several applications of Monte Carlo Radiation Transport as well as Finite Element Analysis. In addition, experimental thermal hydraulic and radiochemical analyses were performed.