Excitation functions for the formation of ^55,57,58m+g Co with deuteron induced reactions on natural iron

Abstract

Excitation functions of the reactions ^nat Fe(d,x) ^55,57,58m+g Co were measured for deuteron energies of 15–35 MeV using the stacked-foil activation technique. The measured cross sections were compared with the available experimental data as well as with model calculations. The model calculations, using the TALYS-2.0 code, reproduced our measured data after a careful selection of a few input parameters. In this work, we report the cross section data with higher precision and extend them above 22 MeV. The thick target yield of ⁵⁵ Co estimated from the measured excitation function amounted to 45 MBq/μAh for the energy window of E _d  = 40 → 25 MeV. Using this energy window, 96 % pure ⁵⁵ Co could be obtained using natural iron target.