Measurement of the Ge(d,n)As Cross Section from 2.1 MeV to 10 MeV

This work reports experimental Ge(d,n)As cross sections producing Arsenic-71 (t = 65.3 h, 28% β), a potentially useful diagnostic radionuclide. Target stacks containing two Ge foils, a Ni monitor foil, and an Al degrader were irradiated with 5.5-10 MeV deuterons using an FN Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. As and Cu, Co, and Co (from Ni(d,x)) were quantified in the foils by high purity germanium gamma spectrometry. The measured cross sections are larger than previously reported and suitable for producing preclinical quantities of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.