CyClotron "CYCLONE 18/9"

The department of Reactive Transport in Leipzig utilizes the cyclotron CYCLONE 18/9® (Ion Beam Applications, IBA, Belgian) for the generation of radionuclides needed in the ongoing research. This particle accelerator supplies protons with an energy of 18 MeV and deuterons with an energy of 9 MeV and enables (p,x) and (d,x) – nuclear reactions. Two internal ion sources generate negatively charged hydrogen and deuteron ions, which are accelerated and after passing stripper foils are guided as protons and deuterons to the eight possible beam exits. A possible beam splitting enables the irradiation of two beam exits simultaneously. The maximum extractable beam current on target is 100 µA for protons and 40 µA for deuterons.

The eight beam exits are equipped with target stations for the irradiation of gaseous targets (e.g. generation of [¹¹C]CO₂, [¹¹C]CH₄ and [¹⁵O]O₂), liquid targets (e.g. generation of [¹⁸F]F₂)) and solid targets. COSTIS 1 and COSTIS 2 are the two available target station for the irradiation of solid targets. COSTIS 1 allows the irradiation of target capsules (diameter = 24 mm, thickness = 5 mm) and is utilized for the irradiation of powders, like oxides, nanoparticles (NP) and salts. COSTIS 2 handles disc-like targets (diameter = 24 mm, thickness = 2 mm) for the irradiation of foils and electroplated samples.

Established nuclear reactions in solid targets

Nuclear reaction	Target material	Parameters	Applications
natLi(p,n)7Be	LiH / nanoparticles (MWCNT)	Ep = 2.5 MeV Ip = 5 µA	Nanosafety research [7Be]MWCNT
natMg(d,α)22Na	Mg-foil 300 µm	Ed = 8.9 MeV Id = 10 µA	Tracer for transport studies (PET)
natSc(p,n)45Ti	Sc-foil 100 µm	Ed = 12 MeV Id = 20 µA	Nanosafety research (TiO2-NP)
natTi(p,n)48V	Ti-foil 100 µm	Ep = 12 MeV Ip = 22 µA	Material recycling of metallurgic slags
natTi(p,n)48V	TiO2-NP	Ep = 12 MeV Ip = 7.5 µA	Nanosafety research [48V]TiO2
natV(p,n)51Cr	V-foil 127 µm	Ep = 11 MeV Ip = 20 µA	Recycling (stainless steel slags, ferrochrome slags)
natFe(p,n)56Co	Fe-foil 100 µm	Ep = 13.4 MeV Ip = 22 µA	Tracer for transport studies (PET)
64Ni(p,n)64Cu	64Ni-clectro plate	Ep = 12 MeV Ip = 22 µA	Tracer for transport studies (PET)
natRb(p,n)85Sr	RbCl pellet 300 µm	Ep = 13.4 MeV Ip = 5 µA	Nuclear waste research (90Sr-analog)
natSr(p,n)88Y	SrCO3 pellet 300 µm	Ep = 12 MeV Ip = 3 µA	Y as analog for REE in transport studies / extraction studies
natY(p,n)89Zr	Y-foil 150 µm	Ep = 12 MeV Ip = 22 µA	REE ore leaching, Zr as major contaminant
natZr(d,n)95Nb	Zr-foil 127 µm	Ed = 9 MeV Id = 10 µA	Tracer for transport studies
135Ba(p,n)135La	[135Ba]BaCO3 pellet 600 µm	Ep = 18 MeV Ip = 12.5 µA	Ore chemistry, separation of Lanthanides
natLa(p,n)139Ce	La2O3 pellet 300 µm	Ep = 12.5 MeV Ip = 22 µA	Ore chemistry, separation of Lanthanides
natCe(p,2n)139Pr	CeO2-NP	Ep = 18 MeV Ip = 7.5 µA	Nanosafety research

---