New directions in nuclear data research for accelerator-based production of medical radionuclides

Abstract

Extensive nuclear data studies have been carried out over the last 30 years in the context of accelerator-based production of radionuclides, especially at energies below 30 MeV, and the achieved database is fairly good. Yet there are some deficiencies or new needs of data. Those needs are generally associated with new emerging clinical applications of radionuclides, e.g. theranostic approach, bimodal imaging, radioimmuno-therapy, etc. This article gives an overview of on-going nuclear data research utilizing charged-particle accelerators in four directions, namely low-energy region, intermediate energy range, use of the α-particle beam, and utilization of fast neutrons generated at accelerators. Wherever possible, a comparison of experimental data with theoretical estimates is presented and evaluated (standardised) data, if available, are also briefly discussed.