Activation cross sections of the natYb(p,xn)169Lu reaction for indirect production of the therapeutic radionuclide 169Yb

Activation cross sections of the natYb(p,xn)169Lu reaction have been measured for the first time up to 70 MeV to investigate the production possibility of the radionuclide 169Yb through decay of its parent 169Lu. The cross sections were measured using the stacked foil irradiation technique and gamma spectrometry. The experimental data were compared with the results of the ALICE-IPPE theoretical model code. Different production routes were compared for the internal radiotherapy related radioisotope 169Yb. Above 30 MeV proton energy the integral yield of the natYb(p,xn)169Lu reaction is higher than that of the earlier investigated 169Tm(p,n)169Yb, 169Tm(d,2n)169Yb, natEr(α,xn)169Yb, natYb(α,x)169Lu and natHf(p,x)169Lu reactions at the equivalent particle energies.