Speaker
Description
Medical isotopes are a vital aspect of nuclear medicine. They are essential for positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), which aid with early detection of cancers, and isotopes are also used in some treatments, such as targeted radionuclide therapy. However, the yield of cyclotron-produced isotopes is lower than its theoretical potential. To improve target design and increase production, existing target models require validation by integrating real data of factors affecting isotope yield. One of these components is the temperature within targets during irradiation. The temperature distribution is not well known due to the difficulty of accurately measuring temperature in the harsh radiation environment. This work explores the use of gold-coated silica fibers engraved with three fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) to measure the temperature of liquid medical isotope targets.
FBGs are small, radiation-resistant, and capable of withstanding high pressures and temperatures, which makes them ideal for this application. Furthermore, the relationship between the FBG wavelength and temperature is linear with an average R
My preliminary work, investigating the heat transfer coefficient of helium by inducing phase changes in foil targets and using FLUKA/ANSYS simulation software will also be significant for the improvement of existing target models. Additionally, I tested the performance of a fiber support system to assess its durability and ability to securely hold fibers during an irradiation. The results from both these studies will facilitate future work where the capabilities of FBGs are broadened to gas and solid targets, further expanding their potential utility in nuclear medicine applications.
This research contributes to the growing field of nuclear medicine by introducing a novel approach to temperature measurement in cyclotron targets, with the capacity to increase isotope production efficiency. With increasing demand for medical isotopes, developing more efficient methods to measure and optimize production processes will be valuable by helping to advance cancer research and introduce additional treatment options to clinics.
| Keyword-1 | Medical Isotopes |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | fiber Bragg grating |
| Keyword-3 | Medical Cyclotron |
