Feasibility study on medical isotope production using a compact neutron generator

Compact neutron generators can provide high flux of neutrons with energies ranging from thermal (0.025 eV) to 14 MeV. Recent measurements demonstrated high neutron yields from the D-Li-7 fusion reaction at an interaction energy of 500 keV. Using the D-Li-7 reaction and applying new advancements in high flux neutron generator technology along with the commercial availability of high voltage DC power supplies enables the production of useful quantities of radioisotopes for medical applications. Using the known neutron reaction cross-sections, it has been estimated that hundreds-to-thousands MBq (or tens-to-hundreds mCi) of Mo-99,Ac- 225, Cu-64 and Cu-67 can be obtained from a compact high flux neutron generator.