Investigations of production cross sections of 122,123,124,125,126,128I produced in Te target by proton irradiation

Abstract

The excitation functions of proton-induced (p, n) reactions on stable tellurium isotopes (122,123,124,125,126,128Te) were investigated to evaluate their potential for producing medically important iodine radionuclides. Theoretical calculations were performed using the nuclear reaction model codes TALYS-2.0 and EMPIRE-3.2.3 and compared with experimental cross section data from the EXFOR and ENDF databases. Both codes, employing different level density and pre-equilibrium approaches, were systematically assessed for predictive accuracy. The TALYS-2.0 generally reproduced the measured data more reliably across most isotopes, while EMPIRE yielded superior agreement for specific cases such as 124I and 126I production. Discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results underline the sensitivity of model parameters and the need for additional cross-section measurements, particularly in poorly explored energy regions. These findings highlight the importance of accurate nuclear data in refining reaction models and optimizing cyclotron-based production routes for radioiodine used in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.