Laser-enhanced aerodynamic isotope separation for making medical radio-isotopes

by Vandenbergh Hubert (EPFL)

Wednesday 13 Mar 2019, 14:15 → 15:00 Europe/Zurich

Aerodynamic isotope separation in a free gas jet is enhanced by 2 orders of magnitude by laser-induced isotopically selective condensation. The method is quite generally applicable and is demonstrated for separating S, Br and Si isotopes. The separation of Mo isotopes is discussed in detail for the production of 100Mo for the 100Mo(p,2n)99Mo reaction and the production of 99mTc for SPECT. Other possibilities including the enrichment of 44Ca from 2% natural abundance, to more than 90%, for PET  scanning via 44Ca(p,n)44Sc are discussed, where β+ of 44Sc has a half life of 4h.