Abstract
To better model nuclear processes there is an interest in measuring neutron capture cross sections of lanthanide radioisotopes. A natural hafnium target was irradiated with 100 meV protons at the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) to produce neutron poor lutetium radioisotopes. After irradiation, the target was allowed to cool to allow shorter lived lutetium isotopes to decay. This left predominately 173Lu with small amounts of 174Lu. The hafnium target was then chemically processed to isolate the lanthanide fraction through ion exchange techniques. Recent efforts have focused on the separation of lanthanide species to produce an elementally pure lutetium product, the manufacture of small high density lutetium targets, and neutron capture cross section measurements.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Los National Laboratory groups C-IIAC, C-NR, LANSCE-NS, IPF, Lujan Center, LANSCE Accelerator Facility, LDRD support, and the LANS LLC. This measurement is supported out the stockpile stewardship program by DOE/NNSA under the auspices of the US Department of Energy at Los Alamos National Laboratory by the Los Alamos National Security LLC, Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396.
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Taylor, W.A. Recent developments in the manufacture of 173lutetium targets. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 296, 689–692 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2078-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2078-2