Optimizing 66Ga Yields: Evaluating Production Routes via Proton, 3He and Alpha Particles Bombardment of Copper and Zinc Isotopes

The medium-lived radionuclide gallium-66 (t1/2 = 9.5 hours, β+ = 56% and ε = 45%) plays a crucial role in positron emission tomography (pet). this study presents a comprehensive analysis of twelve distinct nuclear reaction pathways for 66ga production, examining proton, helium-3, and alpha particle bombardment on copper and zinc targets. cross sections were calculated using the talys 1.9 nuclear reaction simulation code for reactions including 66zn(p, n)66ga, 67zn(p, 2n)66ga, 68zn(p,3n)66ga, natzn(p, x)66ga, 65cu(3he,2n)66ga, natcu(3he, x)66ga, 66zn(3he, x)66ga, natzn(3he, x)66ga, 63cu(a, n)66ga, 65cu(a, 3n)66ga, natcu(a, x)66ga and 64zn(a, x)66ga. the investigation encompassed both natural and enriched isotope targets (63cu, 65cu, natcu, 64zn, 66zn, 67zn, 68zn, and natzn), with theoretical calculations validated against experimental data from the exfor library. notably, the 66zn(p,n)66ga and 64zn(a,x)66ga reactions demonstrated exceptional efficiency, achieving peak cross sections of 400-440 mb and 600-640 mb respectively. for each reaction pathway, optimal energy ranges, threshold energies, and q-values were determined, providing essential parameters to optimize 66ga production in medical applications.