RADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION BY COLLECTIVE ION ACCELERATION

IN THIS PAPER, THE COLLECTIVE ION ACCELERATOR IS PROPOSED AS AN ECONOMICAL ALTERNATIVE TO CYCLOTRONS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHORT-LIVED ISOTOPES FOR POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET). THE COLLECTIVE ION ACCELERATOR HAS THE ADVANTAGE THAT IT CAN PRODUCE HIGHER CURRENTS THAN A CYCLOTRON AT CONSIDERABLY LOWER (ONE-HALF TO ONE-FOURTH) THECOST OF A CYCLOTRON. BEFORE THIS TECHNIQUE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED FOR PET APPLICATIONS, THE RESEARCHERS MUST INVESTIGATE TARGET AND PROCESSING CONSIDERATIONS, OPTIMIZATION OF THE ACCELERATION PROCESS, AND THE COST, SIZE, AND SHIELDING OF A COMPLETE COLLECTIVE ION ACCELERATOR MEDICAL SYSTEM. THEY PROPOSE TO STUDY THESE ISSUES IN PHASE I. A NOVEL COLLECTIVE ACCELERATOR EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUE IS ALSO PROPOSED.