Measurement of PET isotope production cross sections for protons and carbon ions on carbon and oxygen targets for applications in particle therapy range verification.

Measured cross sections for the production of the PET isotopes C-10, C-11 and O-15 from carbon and oxygen targets induced by protons (40-220 MeV) and carbon ions (65-430 MeV u(-1)) are presented. These data were obtained via activation measurements of irradiated graphite and beryllium oxide targets using a set of three scintillators coupled by a coincidence logic. The measured cross sections are relevant for the PET particle range verification method where accurate predictions of the beta(+) emitter distribution produced by therapeutic beams in the patient tissue are required. The presented dataset is useful for validation and optimization of the nuclear reaction models within Monte Carlo transport codes. For protons the agreement of a radiation transport calculation using the measured cross sections with a thick target PET measurement is demonstrated.