Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Evitts, Lee J., Miller, Philip W., Da Pieve, Chiara, Turner, Andrew, Borini, Stefano
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.16817
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866911158793928704
author Evitts, Lee J.
Miller, Philip W.
Da Pieve, Chiara
Turner, Andrew
Borini, Stefano
author_facet Evitts, Lee J.
Miller, Philip W.
Da Pieve, Chiara
Turner, Andrew
Borini, Stefano
contents Background: The emergence and growth of fusion technology enables investigative studies into its applications beyond typical power production facilities. This study seeks to determine the viability of medical isotope production with the neutrons produced in an example large fusion device. Using FISPACT-II (a nuclear inventory code) and a simulated fusion spectrum, the production yields of a significant number of potentially clinically relevant (both in use and novel) medical isotopes were calculated. Comparative calculations were also conducted against existing production routes. Results: Depending on the neutron flux of the fusion device, it could be an ideal technology to produce alpha-emitters such as 212Bi/212Pb, it may be able to contribute to the production of 99mTc/99Mo, and could offer an alternative route in the production a few Auger-emitting candidates. There is also a long list of beta-emitting nuclides where fusion technology may be best placed to produce over existing technologies including 67Cu, 90Y and 47Sc. Conclusions: It is theoretically viable to produce existing and novel medical isotopes with fusion technology. However, a significant number of assumptions form the basis of this study which would need to be studied further for any particular nuclide of interest.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_16817
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Theoretical novel medical isotope production with deuterium-tritium fusion technology
Evitts, Lee J.
Miller, Philip W.
Da Pieve, Chiara
Turner, Andrew
Borini, Stefano
Medical Physics
Background: The emergence and growth of fusion technology enables investigative studies into its applications beyond typical power production facilities. This study seeks to determine the viability of medical isotope production with the neutrons produced in an example large fusion device. Using FISPACT-II (a nuclear inventory code) and a simulated fusion spectrum, the production yields of a significant number of potentially clinically relevant (both in use and novel) medical isotopes were calculated. Comparative calculations were also conducted against existing production routes. Results: Depending on the neutron flux of the fusion device, it could be an ideal technology to produce alpha-emitters such as 212Bi/212Pb, it may be able to contribute to the production of 99mTc/99Mo, and could offer an alternative route in the production a few Auger-emitting candidates. There is also a long list of beta-emitting nuclides where fusion technology may be best placed to produce over existing technologies including 67Cu, 90Y and 47Sc. Conclusions: It is theoretically viable to produce existing and novel medical isotopes with fusion technology. However, a significant number of assumptions form the basis of this study which would need to be studied further for any particular nuclide of interest.
title Theoretical novel medical isotope production with deuterium-tritium fusion technology
topic Medical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.16817