Excitation functions and yields for 66,67,68Ga production via deuteron irradiation of natural zinc

The excitation function for 68 Ga production via deuteron bombardment of a nat Zn target was measured up to 12.8 MeV using the stacked-foil activation technique and high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. Cross-sections for 68 Ga and co-produced isotopes 66 Ga and 67 Ga were determined, demonstrating good agreement with previous experimental data and theoretical prediction from TENDL-2023 nuclear database. The primary beam energy and the beam intensity across the stack were confirmed using the nat Cu(d,x) 65 Zn and nat Cu(d,x) 63 Zn monitor reactions. Physical yields were determined at 12.8 MeV using the measured production cross-section and stopping powers, resulting in 68 Ga, 67 Ga, and 66 Ga production of 560, 7 and 23 MBq/μAh, respectively.