Systematic measurements of proton-induced reactions on enriched molybdenum

Between 2008 and 2010, shortages in the world-wide supply of Mo highlighted weaknesses in the current fission-based production method of $^{\mathrm{m}}$Tc, a critical medical isotope. This crisis sparked interest in developing the direct production of $^{\mathrm{m}}$Tc from proton-induced reactions on enriched Mo targets as an alternative. One complication with this method is that $^{\mathrm{m}}$Tc must be chemically extracted from the irradiated target. Therefore, radiopharmaceuticals produced from proton bombardment will contain a mixture of all Tc-species with open production channels, affecting radiochemical purity, specific activity and total production yield of $^{\mathrm{m}}$Tc---factors critical for the feasibility of this production method. Reactions on trace impurities in the enriched targets have been shown to impact these factors dramatically. Precise cross-section measurements for all Mo $+$p reactions that lead to Tc or Mo species are required for proper assessment of this production technique. Cross-section measurements for the main reaction of interest, $^{\mathrm{m}}$Tc(p,2n), have been performed in recent years, however, other reactions producing Tc have been mostly neglected. We will introduce a systematic study of proton-induced reactionson 92, 94-98, 100 Mo currently being performed at Notre Dame. Preliminary results will be presented.