47Ca production for 47Ca/47Sc generator system using electron linacs

In this work we have studied the feasibility of photonuclear production of 47Ca from 48Ca for 47Ca/47Sc generators. Photon flux distribution for electron beams of different energies incident on a tungsten converter was calculated using the MCNPX radiation transport code. The 47Ca production rate dependence on electron beam energy was found and 47Ca/47Sc yields were estimated for a 40 MeV electron beam. It was shown that irradiating enriched targets with a 40 MeV, 1 mA beam will result in tens of MBq g−1 (few mCi g−1) activity of 47Sc. The results of the simulations were benchmarked by irradiating 22.5 g of CaCl2 powder with a 39 MeV electron beam incident on a tungsten converter. Measured 47Ca/47Sc activities were found to be in very good agreement with the predictions.