Abstract
Excitation functions of the Ag-nat(p, xn)Cd-104,Cd-105 and Ag-nat(p, pxn) Ag-103,Ag-104m.g,Ag- 1049 reactions were measured for the first time over the proton energy range of 32 to about 60 MeV. The data were compared with the results of precompound-hybrid model calculations, whereby only partial agreement was obtained. The contribution of the Ag-103 precursor decay to the total formation of the therapeutic radionuclide Pd-103 in proton activation of silver was estimated: it amounted to about 70%. The various possible routes for the production of Pd-103 were also considered: the Ag-nat(p,x)Pd-103 and Rh-103(p,n)Pd-103 processes were found to be most interesting. Despite its somewhat lower yield, the latter process is preferred because it can be applied at a low-energy cyclotron.