Cherenkov light production from the α-emitting decay chains of 223Ra, 212Pb, and 149Tb for Cherenkov Luminescence Imaging

Cherenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI) is a new method to image radioactive therapeutic and diagnostic agents, primarily in preclinical studies. This study used Geant4 and Python to generate the predicted Cherenkov light production as a function of time for a set of isotopic chains of interest for targeted alpha therapy: 223Ra, 212Pb, and 149Tb. All are shown to produce substantial Cherenkov light, though time delays between initial decays and the production of Cherenkov light requires caution in interpreting CLI.