The Cyclotron Facility at the Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy (L.E.N.A.) of the University of Pavia

A cyclotron facility has been recently installed at the Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy (L.E.N.A.) of the University of Pavia for the production of radioisotopes for medical use. L.E.N.A. is a laboratory where a TRIGA MARK II research nuclear reactor is used for several scientific applications since 1965. The accelerator is an IBA CYCLONE 18/9 with fixed energy of 18 MeV for protons and 9 MeV for deuterons equipped with three targets (two of which for F-18 production and one for 13N-Ammonia) with the possibility of extension to eight targets. The site also includes a radiochemical laboratory for radioisotope packaging and delivery in shielded cases. The cyclotron building is separated from the reactor one with a stand-alone system for area radiation monitoring and other safety systems. Present applications are dedicated to radioisotopes production for PET medical centres. In the future this facility will offer the opportunity of the installation of an external beam line for a wide range of applications (e.g., radiobiological research). Since the cyclotron is installed in a university laboratory this can also be used as a training facility for particle accelerator courses.