Energy recovery linacs for commercial radioisotope production

Photonuclear reactions with bremsstrahlung photon beams from electron linacs can generate radioisotopes of critical interest. An SRF Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) provides a path to a more diverse and reliable domestic supply of short-lived, high-value, high-demand isotopes in a more compact footprint and at a lower cost than those produced by conventional reactor or ion accelerator methods. Use of an ERL enables increased energy efficiency of the complex through energy recovery of the “waste” electron beam, high electron currents for high production yields, and reduced neutron production and shielding activation at beam dump components. Simulation studies using G4Beamline/GEANT4 and MCNP6 through MuSim, as well as other simulation codes, are being used to design an ERL-based isotope production facility utilizing bremsstrahlung photon beams from an electron linac. Key concepts of our approach include the use of a thin photon radiator, a focus on isotopes requiring high energy thresholds for photoproduction, and a novel approach to optical aberration corrections.