1.
Appl Radiat Isot
; 57(4): 509-15, 2002 Oct.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12362914
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research is the investigation of the 90Zr(n,p)90Y reaction as an alternative method to the traditional fission product based on the 90Sr/90Y generator. The fast neutrons necessary to activate 90Zr are generated through (p,xn) reactions during 33 MeV proton irradiation of natural tungsten or other targets. Since 90Y is a pure beta emitter, the gamma-rays from the 90Zr(n,2n)59Zr reaction were used to quantify the neutron flux incident on the 90Zr sample. Using the simulation code MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle System), the angular and energy distributions of neutrons incident on the Zr target were calculated. Based on the MCNPX neutron flux predictions, the 90Y activity was determined.