Excitation functions of 124Te(p, xn)124,123I reactions from 6 to 31 MeV with special reference to the production of 124I at a small cyclotron

Excitation functions were measured by the stacked-foil technique for (p, xn) reactions on highly enriched 124Te in the proton energy range of 6–31 MeV. Thin uniform films of 24Te on Ti-backing were prepared by an electrodeposition method. Above 17 MeV our data agree within experimental errors with the literature values, thus validating the 123I-yields and 124I-impurity levels associated with the 124Te(p, 2n)123I production process. Detailed measurements near the threshold of the 124Te(p, n)124I reaction, on the other hand, show that, contrary to the general assumption, the thick target yield of 124I is fairly high, amounting to 20 MBq (0.54 mCi)/μAh over the optimum energy range Ep = 13 → 9 MeV. A comparison of the three suggested routes for the production of 124I, viz. 124Te(d, 2n)-, 126Te(p, 3n)-, and 124Te(p, n)-processes, is given. The yield and impurity-level data suggest that the 124Te(p, n)124I reaction has a great potential for production at a small cyclotron.