Laser-accelerated Proton Beams from a Solid Hydrogen Target as a Future Source of Radionuclides for Positron Emission Tomography

The production of radionuclides for positron emission tomography through future laser-accelerated proton beams is an interesting perspective. We evaluated the production yields that can be expected according to a new source term based on three-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of the laser available at ELI- Beamlines interacting with an innovative cryogenic hydrogen target. Results indicate that 370 MBq activity can be reached within a few minutes of irradiation for the four conventional PET nuclides 18 F, 11 C, 13 N and 15 O, and for several heavier positron emitters, such as 60 Cu, 62 Cu, 63 Zn, 68 Ga and 73 Se, currently used in pre-clinical and clinical studies.