Source term calculation and validation for 18F-production with a cyclotron for medical applications at HZDR

Abstract

In this document we present the calculation and experimental validation of a source term for 18F-production with a cyclotron for medical applications operating at 18 MeV proton energy and 30 μA proton current. The Monte Carlo codes MCNP6 and FLUKA were used for the calculation of the source term. In addition, the radiation field around the 18O-enriched water target was simulated with the two codes. To validate the radiation field obtained in the simulation, an experimental program has been started using activation samples which are placed close to the water target during an 18F-production run of the cyclotron. After the irradiation, the samples are analysed and the resulting activation is compared to Monte Carlo calculations of the expected sample activation. We find good agreement between simulations and experimental results, with most calculation to experiment (C/E) ratios well between 0.6 and 1.4.