Speakers
Description
Industrial cyclotrons to accelerate protons have proven their robustness and technological maturity in preparing various kinds of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine, once bonded with suitable biomolecules, and used both as diagnostic and therapeutic against cancer and cardiocirculatory diseases. On the radiopharmaceutical market are present cyclotrons of various sizes, ranging from 9 to 70 MeV in energy and current up to 750-800 μA (there are also offers for current up to 1500 μA). There are also cyclotrons designed for Hadrontherapy whose energy can reach 280 – 300 MeV, but for their particular mission, they have a current of the order of the nA.
Our final goal is the production of a feasibility study for the creation of a multi-purpose, cyclotron-based irradiation facility for various activities related to radiation damage for Aerospace, fission and fusion technologies, Molecular and crystal structure (Pharmaceuticals, Geophysics), design of quality tests for industry, RadioBiology. Such a facility should be classified as a regional testing facility in which new ideas, proof of concept and training will be carried out at a relatively low cost were posed on trial and, once passed a robust experimental campaign, transferred to the European Central facilities to be further investigated and exploited.
This work aims to identify, via FLUKA, PHITS and beam dynamics simulation codes, the main parameter for such a multi-purpose facility, defining the kind of particle to be accelerated starting from protons, deuterons and alpha, the respective proper range of currents, the targets’ material necessary to obtain further particles as secondary emission field (neutrons, photons, and possibly low-intensity emission of pions and muons), and the main issues related to radioprotection and post-irradiation handling.
Based on the outcomes of the present work, an interlocution with the cyclotron manufacturer will be initiated to identify (or design) the cyclotron that fits our purpose. Contemporary, a discussion with the possible stakeholders will also be initiated.
