Cross-section studies on copper-64 with zinc target in the proton energy range from 141 down to 31 MeV

High specific activity 64Cu is a radionuclide of increasing interest for PET imaging, as well as systemic and targeted radioimmunotherapy of tumours. The cross sections for production of 64Cu from Zn target of natural isotopic composition were measured in the proton energy range from 141 down to 31 MeV. The stacked-foil technique was used at 160 MeV intersection point of INR proton-LINAC in Troitsk, Russia. Several Ga, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, V and Mn RNs were detected in Zn targets at the EOB. The activity of no-carrier-added 64Cu was measured through its only gamma-emission of 1346 keV (0.47% intensity). To this purpose, it was necessary to carry out a selective radiochemical separation of Ga RNs from the bulk of irradiated Zn target and other RNs. Theoretical calculations of cross sections were carried out with the CEF model and HMS-ALICE hybrid model codes and are compared with the experimental values.