Investigation of production of the therapeutic radioisotope 165Er by proton induced reactions on erbium in comparison with other production routes

The excitation function of the natEr(p,xn)165Tm reaction resulting in production of 165Er was measured up to 70 MeV by activation of stacked foils practically for the first time. The theoretical interpretation is based on the results of the ALICE-IPPE and EMPIRE-II codes. From the measured experimental cross section data integral production yield was calculated and compared with experimental integral yield data reported in the literature. Different production routes of the therapeutic radioisotope 165Er were compared.