Isotope Production Calculator
Calculate activity produced from neutron irradiation given flux, cross section, and irradiation time.
Inputs
oz
barns
n/cm²/s
hours
hours
Results
Produced Activity
33.42 GBq
Produced Activity903.17 mCi
Produced Activity33,417,143,459 Bq
Fraction of Saturation0
Saturation Activity22,281,400,000,000 Bq
Optimal Irradiation Time161,637 hours
Specific Activity33,417,143,459 Bq/g
Product Atoms Produced8,015,287,409,500,533,000
Decay Constant0
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Target Mass, Activation Cross Section, and Neutron Flux.
- Set Irradiation Time and Product Half-Life.
- Review the Produced Activity (GBq) result.
- Use Produced Activity (mCi) and Produced Activity (Bq) to inform your decision.
- Use the chart to visualize the results and explore different scenarios by adjusting inputs.
How the result changes with Product Half-Life
| Product Half-Life | Produced Activity |
|---|---|
| 10,000,000 | 0.15 GBq |
| 35,000,000 | 0.04 GBq |
| 65,000,000 | 0.02 GBq |
| 90,000,000 | 0.02 GBq |
What each input means
- Target Mass
- Mass of the target material to be irradiated in grams.
- Activation Cross Section
- Thermal neutron activation cross section in barns. Co-59→Co-60: 37 b, Mo-98→Mo-99: 0.13 b.
- Neutron Flux
- Thermal neutron flux at the irradiation position. Research reactors: 10¹³–10¹⁵ n/cm²/s.
- Irradiation Time
- Duration of neutron irradiation in hours.
- Product Half-Life
- Half-life of the produced radioactive isotope in hours. Co-60: 46,182 hr, Mo-99: 65.9 hr.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersTarget Mass = 1, Activation Cross Section = 37, Neutron Flux = 100000000000000, Irradiation Time = 100 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Produced ActivityProduced Activity33.417 = 33.417
- Calculate Produced ActivityProduced Activity903.17 = 903.17
- Calculate Produced ActivityProduced Activity33417143459 = 33417143459
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