Method and apparatus for production of radiometals and other radioisotopes using a particle accelerator

A device for positioning a solid target within a beam path of a particle accelerator comprising:

• (a) a target backing plate positioned within the beam path of the particle accelerator;
• (b) the solid target positioned on the target backing plate distal to the particle accelerator;
• (c) a split chamber including:
• (i) a liquid reservoir containing liquid in contact with the solid target, wherein the liquid is configured to remove heat and irradiated material from the solid target;
• (ii) a vapor capture enclosure in vapor communication with the liquid reservoir, wherein the vapor capture enclosure extends above and away from the liquid reservoir and outside the beam path, wherein the vapor capture enclosure forms an upper chimney configured to receive vapors of heated liquid from the liquid reservoir, condense the vapors, and return the condensed liquid to the liquid reservoir, and wherein the chimney is enclosed in a cooling fluid jacket;
• (iii) a first portal positioned at a lower end of the liquid reservoir configured to supply and drain liquid to and from the liquid reservoir;
• and
• (iv) a second portal positioned at an upper end of the vapor capture enclosure configured to supply fluid to the split chamber and force drainage of the liquid from the portal of the liquid reservoir.

A device for irradiating a target to create radioisotopes, comprising:

• (a) the target being positioned within a target structure removably attachable to a particle accelerator, wherein the target structure holds the target within a path of a particle beam of the particle accelerator, wherein the target includes a front surface on which the particle beam impinges and a back surface opposite to the front surface;
• (b) a backing plate positioned within the target structure, wherein the backing plate is configured to isolate the target from the particle accelerator;
• (c) a split chamber, wherein a lower portion of the split chamber is a liquid reservoir containing a liquid in contact with the back surface of the target and an upper portion of the split chamber is a vapor enclosure in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir and configured to receive vapor emitted from the liquid when heated with heat from the target and from the particle beam, wherein the lower portion of the split chamber is positioned within the path of the particle beam and extends across the back surface of the target, and wherein the upper portion of the split chamber is positioned above the path of the particle beam and extends in a direction upward from the back surface of the target;
• (d) a reservoir closeable port at a lower end of the liquid reservoir, wherein the reservoir closeable port is configured to supply and drain liquid to and from the split chamber;
• (e) an enclosure closeable port at an upper end of the vapor enclosure, wherein the enclosure closeable port is configured to supply fluid to the split chamber and force the drainage of the liquid from the liquid reservoir;
• and
• (f) a jacket to provide cooling fluid surrounding the vapor enclosure.