New data on cross-sections of deuteron induced nuclear reactions on gold up to 50Â MeV and comparison of production routes of medically relevant Au and Hg radioisotopes

Investigations of cross-sections of deuteron induced nuclear reactions on gold were extended up to 50 MeV by using the standard stacked foil irradiation technique and high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. New cross-sections are reported for the 197Au(d,xn)197m,197g,195m,195g,193m,193gHg and 197Au(d,x)198m,198g,196m,196g,195,194Au nuclear reactions. The application for production of the medically relevant isotopes 198Au and 195m,195g,197m,197gHg is discussed, including the comparison with other charged particle induced production routes. The possible use of the 197Au(d,x)197m,197g,195m,193mHg and 196m,196gAu reactions for monitoring deuteron beam parameters is also investigated.