Nuclear Cross-Section of Proton-Induced Reactions on Enriched ⁴⁸Ti Targets for the Production of Theranostic ⁴⁷Sc Radionuclide, ^46cSc, ^44mSc, ^44gSc, ⁴³Sc, and ⁴⁸V

The cross-sections of the Ti-48(p,x)Sc-47, Sc-46c, Sc-44m, Sc-44g, Sc-43, and V-48 nuclear reactions were measured from 18 to 70 MeV, with particular attention to Sc-47 production. Enriched Ti-48 powder was deposited on an aluminum backing and the obtained targets were characterized via elastic backscattering spectroscopy at the INFN-LNL. Targets were exposed to low-intensity proton irradiation using the stacked-foils technique at the ARRONAX facility. Activated samples were measured using gamma-spectrometry; the results were compared with the data int he literature and the theoretical TALYS-based values. A regular trend in the new values obtained from the different irradiation runs was noted, as well as a good agreement with the literature data, for all the radionuclides of interest: Sc-47, Sc-46c, Sc-44m, Sc-44g, Sc-43, and V-48. Sc-47 production was also discussed, considering yield and radionuclidic purity, for different Sc-47 production scenarios.