The proposed research focuses on measuring neutron leakage from the 18O(p,n) reaction, which produces 18F, the most widely used positron emitter in PET radiopharmaceutical production. Precise knowledge of neutron leakage spectra is crucial for designing appropriate shielding for dedicated medical accelerators. This topic is gaining increasing attention due to the need for enhanced radionuclide production on high-power cyclotron targets.

Previous experiments conducted on IBA accelerators have revealed significant discrepancies between model-based predictions and experimental data. To address these inconsistencies, a series of experiments will be carried out at the U-120M cyclotron, operated by the Nuclear Physics Institute in collaboration with the Research Center Řež. This research will be conducted within an open-access framework, as it aligns with the doctoral research of M. Zmeškal (supervised by M. Košťál) and the dissertation of Oldřich Pecák (supervised by Zdeněk Matěj), both affiliated with the Research Center Řež and Masaryk University.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.