Various embodiments include an ion source assembly. The ion source assembly may include an oven configured to receive a charge material through an upstream end, an ionization reaction volume adjacent a downstream end of the oven that may be configured to receive a neutral gas, a cathode assembly positioned to generate an electron beam directed toward the ionization reaction volume, and an anode positioned downstream of the ionization reaction volume. The ionization reaction volume may be disposed between the oven and the cathode assembly. The electron beam may flow in a direction opposite to a flow of ions generated in the ionization reaction volume.

Various embodiments include a system for isotope separation. The system may include an ion source assembly configured to generate ions from a source material, an injector assembly positioned to receive, accelerate, and focus the ions into a beam, and a separator assembly positioned to receive ions from the injector assembly. The separator assembly may include a velocity filter with a magnet assembly and two electrodes with curved portions angled to vary the electric field to compensate for non-linearities in the magnetic field. The system may also include a collimator coupled to a distal end of a drift path portion, the collimator comprising a first slit aperture. An isotope collector module comprising a first removable collection surface may be positioned beyond the collimator to receive the first target isotope ions.

Various embodiments include a method of producing purified lutetium-177. The method may include irradiating a target material containing lutetium-176 in a nuclear reactor, separating lutetium-177 from the irradiated target material using electromagnetic isotope separation, dissolving the separated lutetium-177 in an acidic solution, purifying the dissolved lutetium-177 using a series of chromatographic columns and ion resins, and eluting the purified lutetium-177 in a final chemical form suitable for medical use. The chromatographic columns may include a first column containing a lanthanide resin and a second column containing a diglycolamide resin. The final chemical form may be lutetium-177 chloride.