Cross-section measurement of some deuteron induced reactions on $^{160}$Gd for possible production of the therapeutic radionuclide $^{161}$Tb

Abstract

The radionuclide 161Tb (T1/2=6.89 d) is potentially important for internal radiotherapy. It is generally produced through the 160Gd(n,{\gamma})161Gd - 161Tb route at research reactors. In this work the possibility of its production at a cyclotron was investigated. Determination of the excitation function of the 160Gd(d,x)161Tb production route and that of the disturbing 160Gd(d,2n)160Tb side reaction was done over the deuteron energy range up to 50 MeV using the stacked-foil technique and high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A comparison of this production route with the established (n,\gamma) reaction at a nuclear reactor is made.