The present disclosure relates to an isotope production apparatus. In one implementation, the apparatus may include a cyclotron for producing a particle beam, a shielding surrounding the cyclotron, and a target system within the shielding. The shielding may include a first layer having a hydrogen content of at least 100 kg/m.sup.3 and a second layer having at least 4900 kg/m.sup.3 of material having an atomic number equal to or higher than 26, and at least 29 kg/m.sup.3 of hydrogen.

Radioisotope production system includes an electrical field system and a magnetic field system that are configured to direct a particle beam of charged particles along a beam path within an acceleration chamber. The magnetic field system is energized by a drive current to generate a magnetic flux into the acceleration chamber for controlling the particle beam. The radioisotope production system also includes a target system configured to hold a target material and receive the particle beam. The radioisotope production system also includes a monitoring system that is configured to: (a) determine an operating parameter of the radioisotope production system as the particle beam is directed toward the target material and (b) change the drive current, thereby changing the magnetic flux, based on the operating parameter.

An apparatus for generating medical isotopes provides an annular fissile solution vessel surrounding a neutron generator. The annular fissile solution vessel provides for good capture of the emitted neutrons and a geometry that provides enhanced stability in an aqueous reactor. A neutron multiplier and/or a neutron moderator may be used to improve the efficiency and control the criticality of the reaction in the annular fissile solution vessel.

Provided is a target plate for radioisotope production that has sufficient durability and sufficient heat resistance for use in radioisotope production and that is capable of reducing the extent of radioactivation. In a target plate for radioisotope production, a support substrate, which supports a target, includes a graphite film(s). The thermal conductivity in a surface direction of the graphite film(s) is 1200 W/(m.Math.K) or greater, and the thickness of the graphite film(s) is 0.05 μm or greater and 100 μm or less.

A capsule for the transfer of a target material in a conveying system between a target irradiation station and a collecting station comprising: a beamline channel for the passage of an energetic beam irradiating the target material, a target holder holding the target material or a substrate backing the target material at a glancing angle with respect to the beamline channel axis, a degrader foil positioned across the beamline channel for degrading an energy of the energetic beam upstream of the target material, a target cooling inlet and a target cooling outlet for passage of a cooling fluid in a target cooling duct in a vicinity of the target holder such that the target material can be cooled during an irradiation, and a degrader foil cooling inlet and a degrader foil cooling outlet for passage of a cooling gas in a vicinity of the degrader foil.

Systems and methods that facilitate the transmutation of long-lived radioactive transuranic waste into short-live radioactive nuclides or stable nuclides using an electrostatic accelerator particle beam to generate neutrons.

A radioisotope production apparatus includes a particle accelerator, a first target portion on which a charged particle beam emitted from the particle accelerator is incident and through which the charged particle beam passes, and a second target portion on which the charged particle beam passing through the first target portion is incident. In the first target portion, a target material is held in a beam passage, and a cooling gas supply unit which blows a cooling gas to the target material is provided. In a second target portion, a target substrate is held on a beam axis and a downstream-side surface of the target substrate with respect to the charged particle beam is cooled by cooling water. A total thickness of target foils of the first target portion on the beam axis is smaller than a thickness of the target substrate of the second target portion on the beam axis.

A system and method for producing radioisotopes such as molybdenum-99. The system comprises a first accelerator, a second accelerator, a first beamline, a second beamline, and a target. Using a pair of accelerators, beamlines are preferably fired at a target from opposite directions, thereby irradiating the target from both sides. The system can further comprise a target cooling system utilizing gaseous helium, a modular local target shielding comprised of boxes of either metal shot with liquid coolant or steel with concrete, and a hot cell for loading and unloading target disks.

A continuous wave ion linear accelerator PET radioisotope system is disclosed. The system includes a high brightness H.sup. ion source, a continuous wave RF quadrupole structure, and continuous wave RF interdigital structures to accelerate the ion beam to about 14 MeV. A high energy beam transport system is also described that includes a photo-detachment beam splitter and a magnet lattice for forming the proton beam into a beam having a Waterbag beam profile. The system also includes one or more targets upon which the proton beam is incident. The targets are either a high power metallic target oriented at about 10 degrees or a low thermal conductivity target oriented at about 35 degrees. The invention includes a method of producing PET isotopes by use of the systems described.

A capsule for the transfer of a target material in a conveying system between a target irradiation station and a collecting station comprising: a beamline channel for the passage of an energetic beam irradiating the target material, a target holder holding the target material or a substrate backing the target material at a glancing angle with respect to the beamline channel axis, a degrader foil positioned across the beamline channel for degrading an energy of the energetic beam upstream of the target material, a target cooling inlet and a target cooling outlet for passage of a cooling fluid in a target cooling duct in a vicinity of the target holder such that the target material can be cooled during an irradiation, and a degrader foil cooling inlet and a degrader foil cooling outlet for passage of a cooling gas in a vicinity of the degrader foil.