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  • Production of carbon-11 for...
    Peñas, Juan; Alejo, Aarón; Bembibre, Adrián; Apiñaniz, Jon Imanol; García-García, Enrique; Guerrero, Carlos; Henares, José Luis; Hernández-Palmero, Irene; Méndez, Cruz; Millán-Callado, María Ángeles; Puyuelo-Valdés, Pilar; Seimetz, Michael; Benlliure, José

    Scientific reports, 05/2024, Letnik: 14, Številka: 1
    Journal Article

    Most advanced medical imaging techniques, such as positron-emission tomography (PET), require tracers that are produced in conventional particle accelerators. This paper focuses on the evaluation of a potential alternative technology based on laser-driven ion acceleration for the production of radioisotopes for PET imaging. We report for the first time the use of a high-repetition rate, ultra-intense laser system for the production of carbon-11 in multi-shot operation. Proton bunches with energies up to 10-14 MeV were systematically accelerated in long series at pulse rates between 0.1 and 1 Hz using a PW-class laser. These protons were used to activate a boron target via the B(p,n) C nuclear reaction. A peak activity of 234 kBq was obtained in multi-shot operation with laser pulses with an energy of 25 J. Significant carbon-11 production was also achieved for lower pulse energies. The experimental carbon-11 activities measured in this work are comparable to the levels required for preclinical PET, which would be feasible by operating at the repetition rate of current state-of-the-art technology (10 Hz). The scalability of next-generation laser-driven accelerators in terms of this parameter for sustained operation over time could increase these overall levels into the clinical PET range.