Production study of high specific activity NCA Re-186g by proton and deuteron cyclotron irradiation

Very high specific activity (A(S)) Re-186g could be produced by either proton or deuteron cyclotron irradiation on highly enriched W-186 target in no-carrier-added (NCA) form, leading to a A(S) very close to the theoretical carrier free (CF) value of 6.88 GBq mu g(-1). Thick Target Yields (TTYs), obtained irradiating both thick metal W targets of natural isotopic composition and highly enriched powdered W-186 targets, were measured at different particles energies taking into account high accuracy and precision. The evaluation of radionuclidic purities of Re-186g obtained activating highly enriched W-186 by both p and d were also carried out and accurately compared. The thin-target excitation functions for all Re (A = 181, 182, 183, 184, 186 and their metastable levels), and W and Ta coproduced radionuclides will be presented elsewhere in deep details.