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Observation of 99Mo radioactivity produced in natural molybdenum irradiated with an electron beam from a linear industrial accelerator Cover

Observation of 99Mo radioactivity produced in natural molybdenum irradiated with an electron beam from a linear industrial accelerator

Open Access
|Oct 2025

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.

Energy spectra of the electron beams used in the experiment.
Energy spectra of the electron beams used in the experiment.

Fig. 2.

Irradiation setup scheme.
Irradiation setup scheme.

Fig. 3.

Energy spectra of the 1.13 mm thick disc irradiated by 15.6 MeV electrons, measured 70 h and 136 h after irradiation.
Energy spectra of the 1.13 mm thick disc irradiated by 15.6 MeV electrons, measured 70 h and 136 h after irradiation.

Fig. 4.

The most characteristic lines confirming the presence of 99Mo after background extraction.
The most characteristic lines confirming the presence of 99Mo after background extraction.

Fig. 5.

Measured and expected activity of the molybdenum targets irradiated with the beam of an energy 12.6 MeV.
Measured and expected activity of the molybdenum targets irradiated with the beam of an energy 12.6 MeV.

Fig. 6.

Measured and expected activity of the molybdenum targets irradiated with the beam of an energy 15.6 MeV.
Measured and expected activity of the molybdenum targets irradiated with the beam of an energy 15.6 MeV.

Geant4 simulation results of (e−, n) and (γ, n) reaction analysis for 15_6 MeV electrons

Target thickness (mm)Total nuclei of 99Mo produced per electron impinging on the targetNuclei 99Mo produced through the (e, n) reaction per electron impinging on the targetRatio (e, n)/total 99Mo
0.12(5.0 ± 0.1)·10−9(1.3 ± 0.01)·10−80.72
0.33(3.6 ± 0.04)·10−8(3.55 ± 0.01)·10−80.50
1.13(3.57 ± 0.02)·10−7(1.075 ± 0.002)·10−70.26

Geant4 simulation results of (e−, n) and (γ, n) reaction analysis for 12_6 MeV electrons

Target thickness (mm)Total nuclei of 99Mo produced per electron impinging on the targetNuclei 99Mo produced through the (e, n) reaction per electron impinging on the targetRatio (e, n)/total 99Mo
0.12(3.5 ± 0.08)·10−9(2.5 ± 0.03)·10−90.74
0.33(1.35 ± 0.01)·10−8(0.70 ± 0.05)·10−80.51
1.13(6.85 ± 0.02)·10−8(1.70 ± 0.01)·10−80.25

Calculated activities (Geant4 simulations and experimental data) of 99Mo in targets after irradiations by 12_6 MeV electrons

Target thickness (mm)Time of irradiation (min)f (Hz)Measured A (kBq)Simulated A (kBq)
0.128871.7013 ± 417 ± 0.3
0.337485.2763 ± 860 ± 0.5
1.131694.3870 ± 764 ± 0.5

Calculated activities (Geant4 simulations and experimental data) of 99Mo in targets after irradiations by 15_6 MeV electrons

Target thickness (mm)Time of irradiation (min)f (Hz)Measured A (kBq)Simulated A (kBq)
0.126235.3336 ± 438 ± 0.9
0.335259.79152 ± 10165 ± 1.6
1.132246.46653 ± 36630 ± 3.4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nuka-2025-0013 | Journal eISSN: 1508-5791 | Journal ISSN: 0029-5922
Language: English
Page range: 125 - 132
Submitted on: Feb 28, 2024
Accepted on: Jun 6, 2025
Published on: Oct 21, 2025
Published by: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Tobiasz Zawistowski, Sławomir Wronka, Przemysław Adrich, Mariusz Chabera, Izabela Cieszykowska, Tomasz Janiak, Tymoteusz Kosiński, Michał Matusiak, published by Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.