Scattering fast neutrons that have passed through an irradiated first sample to generate radioisotopes in both the first sample and a second sample

A method for producing radioisotopes comprising:

• generating neutrons by irradiating a neutron producing target with a deuteron beam accelerated by a deuteron accelerator;
• directly irradiating a first sample with first neutrons produced in the neutron producing target;
• producing scattered neutrons by scattering both
• (i) second neutrons which have initially been scattered by a nuclear reaction in the first sample and
• (ii) third neutrons which have penetrated through the first sample without being scattered by the nuclear reaction in the first sample,
• by interaction of the second and third neutrons with a neutron scattering material made of polyethylene, water, or paraffin disposed around the neutron producing target and the first sample,
• the interaction causing the scattered second and third neutrons to have a reduced energy;
• and
• simultaneously generating multiple radioisotopes from the first sample and a second sample, through
• (i) a nuclear reaction between the first neutrons produced in the neutron producing target and the first sample, and
• (ii) a nuclear reaction between the multi-scattered neutrons generated by scattering the second and third neutrons in the neutron scattering material and both
• the first sample and
• the second sample,
• the second sample being different in material from the first sample, and
• the second sample being disposed adjacent the neutron scattering material.