Upgrading of the Accelerator Facilities at iThemba LABS to increase the Production of Radionuclides

iThemba LABS provides accelerator and ancillary facilities that are used for research and training in nuclear and accelerator physics, radiation biophysics, radiochemical and material sciences, radionuclide production and radiotherapy. Proton beams are accelerated to an energy of 66 MeV in the K = 200 separated sector cyclotron (SSC) with a solid-pole injector cyclotron (K=8) for use in the production of radionuclides and neutron therapy. Radionuclides produced at iThemba LABS are used in research and industry, various radiopharmaceuticals are prepared for diagnostic imaging at nuclear medicine centers. The cyclotrons and beam lines are being upgraded in order to increase the intensity of the 66 MeV proton beam for radionuclide production. Improvements of the facilities for increasing the beam intensity for radionuclide production include flat-topping systems for the light ion injector and SSC, and an additional buncher. A new vertical beam line and a vertical target station have been constructed. A beam splitter in the existing beam lines is planned to extend the facilities for the production of radionuclides.