Fluorine production and its role in cancer diagnosis 15N(α,n)18F and 18F(n,α)15N

Fluorine-18, a radioactive isotope, is extensively utilized in medical applications, particularly for cancer diagnosis. This study investigates the production and reaction mechanisms of Fluorine-18 through the calculation of cross-sections for the reaction 15N(α, n)18F. The notable electronegativity of Fluorine, which arises from the configuration of its five electrons in the outer 2p shell, underlines its remarkable capacity to attract electrons, thereby emphasizing its chemical significance. Additionally, the cross-sections for the reverse reaction, 18F(n, α)15N, were analyzed to further comprehend its behavior under specific conditions. The results of this investigation demonstrate that the highest probability of producing Fluorine-18 occurs within the energy range of 8.7 to 15 MeV, divided into 0.15 MeV increments. The threshold energy requisite for initiating this reaction is precisely determined to be 1.05117 MeV. Moreover, semi-empirical equations defining the cross-sections for the reverse reaction were deduced. These equations incorporate critical parameters, including the masses of the incident and outgoing particles, the target nucleus and resulting daughter nucleus, as well as the spin and parity of the participated nuclei. Detailed analysis indicates that the peak probability for the reverse reaction, 18F(n, α)15N, is achieved at an energy level of 16.3444 MeV when the incident neutron energy is approximately 9.3736 MeV. Across varying neutron energy levels, the corresponding cross-sections exhibit distinct fluctuations characterized by multiple peaks. Specifically, at an incident neutron energy of 11.3736 MeV, a maximum cross-section value of 8.2743 millibarns (mb) is observed. For neutron energies resulting from the reverse reaction, cross-sections span values ranging from 16.3444 mbarn to 0.4879 mbarn as the associated energy decreases from 11.6236 MeV to 6.3738 MeV. This comprehensive dataset provides critical insights into understanding and optimizing Fluorine-18 production for medical applications.