Excitation functions of He-3 and alpha-particle induced nuclear reactions on Sb-nat for production of medically relevant I-123 and I-124 radioisotopes

Excitation functions were measured using the stacked foil irradiation technique from threshold energies to 28 MeV for He-3- and to 21 MeV for alpha-particle induced nuclear reactions on natural antimony leading to the formation of I-121,I-123,I-124 radioisotopes. The measured excitation functions were compared with the contradicting results of the earlier investigations found in the literature and with the curves predicted by the ALICE-IPPE and EMPIRE-II codes. Integral yields were also calculated and compared with the experimental thick target yields reported in the literature. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.