Production of ^<99>Mo for Nuclear Medicine by ^<100>Mo(n,2n)^<99>Mo(Nuclear physics)

We have proposed a new route to produce ^<99>Mo for nuclear medicine by the ^<100>Mo(n,2n)^<99>Mo reaction. The reaction cross section is known to be〜1.5b in the neutron energy, E_n, range from 12 to 17MeV: 10-times larger than the thermal-neutron capture cross section of ^<98>Mo. By irradiating an enriched ^<100>Mo target for 198h with neutrons of 〜10^<13>n/(cm^2s) at E_n〜14MeV, one can produce 79GBq/g specific activity of ^<99>Mo. Since the cross sections for ^<100>Mo(n,p)^<100>Nb, ^<100>Mo(n,np)^<99>Nb and^<100>Mo(n,α)^<97>Zr at 12≤E_n≤17MeV are small, less than a few mb, radioactive waste during and/or after chemical processing of ^<99>Mo would not be a serious problem. The proposed route could bring a major breakthrough in the solution of ensuring a constant and reliable supply of ^<99>Mo without using highly enriched ^<235>U.