An apparatus and method for accelerator beam line isolation from targets and solid target irradiation chamber in the production of medical radioisotopes by the irradiation of solid targets is provided. The isolation consists of a single, thin material window placed in front of the target in such as way as not to be subjected to any pressure differences when the target irradiation chamber is evacuated or vented and not requiring window surface cooling, relaying only on the heat removal by conduction.

There is provided an exit window for an electron beam from a linear accelerator for use in producing radioisotopes. The exit window comprises a cylindrical channel operatively connectable at one end to a vacuum chamber configured for travel of the electron beam; and a domed dished head at the other end of the channel, the dished head comprising a convex portion having a protruding crown configured for pass-through of the electron beam wherein the geometry of the domed dished head is proportioned to resist pressure stress created by cooling medium circulating around the protruding crown and the vacuum in the cylindrical channel and to maintain the combined cooling medium pressure stress and pulsed electron beam thermal stress below the fatigue limit of the material forming the exit window.

Apparatus for radioisotope production includes housing, a plurality of target disks inside the housing and a curved windows positioned convex inward toward the disks. During operation, coolant flows though the housing across the disks and windows while electron beams passes through the window and the disks. The window temperature increases, rising the fastest in the middle of the window where the electron beam hits the window. A flat window would buckle because the center would deform during thermal expansion against the relatively unaffected periphery, but the curved window shape allows the window to endure high thermal and mechanical stress created by a combination of heating from the electron beam(s) and elevated pressure from coolant on the inside of the window. Such a window may be used for applications in which a pressurized coolant acts on only one side of the window.

An irradiation target positioning device and method for creating radioisotopes utilizing linear particle beam accelerators or cyclotron accelerators. The device positions a target proximate to a liquid reservoir and vapor expansion chamber. The target may be in a solid phase. Heat produced within the target during irradiation can be absorbed by the liquid. The liquid may be heated to its vaporization temperature and vapor emitted into the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber may utilize a cooling mechanism, allowing the vapor to condense (second phase change). The radioactive product may diffuse into the liquid, thereby allowing the irradiated product to be conveyed out of the target structure in a liquid, solution or slurry. Multiple radioisotopes may be produced simultaneously out of the target material and liquid and separated later. The target material and irradiated product may be removed from the target surface by acid.

An irradiation target positioning device and method for creating radioisotopes utilizing linear particle beam accelerators or cyclotron accelerators is disclosed. The device positions a target proximate to a liquid reservoir and vapor expansion chamber. The target may be in a solid phase. Heat produced within the target during irradiation can be absorbed by the liquid. The liquid may be heated to its vaporization temperature and vapor emitted into the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber may utilize a cooling mechanism, for allowing the vapor to condense (second phase change). A radioactive product may diffuse into the liquid, thereby allowing the irradiated product to be conveyed out of the target structure in a liquid, solution, or slurry. Multiple radioisotopes may be produced simultaneously out of the target material and liquid and separated later. The target material and the irradiated product may be removed from the target surface by acid.

Apparatus for radioisotope production includes housing, a plurality of target disks inside the housing and a curved windows positioned convex inward toward the disks. During operation, coolant flows though the housing across the disks and windows while electron beams passes through the window and the disks. The window temperature increases, rising the fastest in the middle of the window where the electron beam hits the window. A flat window would buckle because the center would deform during thermal expansion against the relatively unaffected periphery, but the curved window shape allows the window to endure high thermal and mechanical stress created by a combination of heating from the electron beam(s) and elevated pressure from coolant on the inside of the window. Such a window may be used for applications in which a pressurized coolant acts on only one side of the window.

An irradiation target positioning device and method for creating radioisotopes utilizing linear particle beam accelerators or cyclotron accelerators. The device positions a target proximate to a liquid reservoir and vapor expansion chamber. The target may be in a solid phase. Heat produced within the target during irradiation can be absorbed by the liquid. The liquid may be heated to its vaporization temperature and vapor emitted into the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber may utilize a cooling mechanism, allowing the vapor to condense (second phase change). The radioactive product may diffuse into the liquid, thereby allowing the irradiated product to be conveyed out of the target structure in a liquid, solution or slurry. Multiple radioisotopes may be produced simultaneously out of the target material and liquid and separated later. The target material and irradiated product may be removed from the target surface by acid.

A system and process for the photo-nuclear production of .sup.67Cu using mainly the .sup.71Ga (, ).sup.67Cu reaction. The system and process uses a high energy electron beam, with or without a radiator, in order to isotopically convert at least a portion of a liquid .sup.71Ga target to .sup.67Cu.

A beam accelerator system operable to produce a medical isotope, including an ion accelerator that generates an ion beam; a low-pressure chamber; an anode adjacent and fluidly connected to the low-pressure chamber; a plasma window adjacent and fluidly connected to the anode; and a cathode housing adjacent and fluidly connected to the plasma window. The plasma window has a plurality of plates, each plate having an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in one or more adjacent plates to form a plasma channel. One or more plates in the plurality of plates includes a unitary plate having an aperture therein, and one or more cooling channels entering the unitary plate at a first side of the unitary plate and exiting the unitary plate at a second side of the unitary plate. The one or more cooling channels run through a thickness of the unitary plate.

There is provided an exit window for an electron beam from a linear accelerator for use in producing radioisotopes. The exit window comprises a cylindrical channel operatively connectable at one end to a vacuum chamber configured for travel of the electron beam; and a domed dished head at the other end of the channel, the dished head comprising a convex portion having a protruding crown configured for pass-through of the electron beam wherein the geometry of the domed dished head is proportioned to resist pressure stress created by cooling medium circulating around the protruding crown and the vacuum in the cylindrical channel and to maintain the combined cooling medium pressure stress and pulsed electron beam thermal stress below the fatigue limit of the material forming the exit window.