Yield of radionuclides and isomers produced in the fragmentation of natW and 186W (97%) targets with protons at 630, 420 and 270MeV

Yields and cross-sections of the radioactive nuclides produced after the irradiation of natural composition W and enriched 186W targets at the Dubna synchrocyclotron were measured using the γ-ray spectroscopy methods with high-resolution Ge detectors. Among the detected nuclides we identified the spallation and fission products. High-spin isomeric states in the Hf and Lu nuclides were populated and the isomer-to-ground state ratios could be estimated. The nuclide yields were calculated using the LAHET code at six different values of the proton energy in the range from 100 to 800MeV both for the natW and enriched 186W targets. The measured isotope yields are in general good agreement with the calculations. A shortcoming of the code is the inability to predict isomer-to-ground state ratios. The experimental data show that the 177mLu, 178m2Hf and 179m2Hf high-spin isomers are produced with a 2.5 times higher yield in the 97% enriched 186W target as compared to the natW target under identical irradiation conditions. This makes significance for the creation of high-activity isomeric sources. The mass-distribution of the products and the fission-to-spallation ratio were also deduced and compared with theory prediction.