Excitation functions of deuteron induced nuclear reactions on dysprosium targets for the production of the theranostic relevant isotopes of terbium

The physical properties of $${}^{149,152,155,161}$$Tb enable their use in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the field of nuclear medicine. For this reason the optimization of the production routes of these radionuclides is of widespread interest in research. In this work, the feasibility of the production of $${}^{155}$$Tb and $${}^{161}$$Tb via the nuclear reactions induced by deuterons on dysprosium target with natural isotopic abundances has been discussed. The cross sections of $${}^{nat}$$Dy(d,x) reactions have been studied in the 12.5–32 MeV energetic range with the stacked-foil technique and the corresponding Thick Target Yields have been obtained. The presence of terbium and dysprosium contaminants ($${}^{156,160}$$Tb, $${}^{155,157,159}$$Dy) has been evaluated too.