Nuclear model analysis of excitation functions of α-particle induced reactions on In and Cd up to 60 MeV with relevance to the production of high specific activity 117mSn

Excitation functions were calculated for the α-particle induced reactions 115In(α,x)117mSn, 114Cd(α,n)117mSn, 116Cd(α,3n)117mSn and natCd(α,x)117mSn to analyse the production of the medically important 117mSn (T½ = 13.6 d). For calculations three nuclear model codes (i.e. TALYS, EMPIRE and ALICE-IPPE) were used and the results were compared with the available experimental data. For the most important reaction, 116Cd(α,3n)117mSn, evaluated data are presented. The yield and radionuclidic purity of 117mSn from each reaction are discussed.