Cherenkov light production from the α-emitting decay chains of 223Ra, 212Pb, and 149Tb for Cherenkov Luminescence Imaging

Abstract Cherenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI) is a new method to image radioactive therapeutic and diagnostic agents, primarily in preclinical studies. This study used Geant4 and Python to generate the predicted Cherenkov light production as a function of time for a set of isotopic chains of interest for targeted alpha therapy: 223 Ra, 212 Pb, and 149 Tb. All are shown to produce substantial Cherenkov light, though time delays between initial decays and the production of Cherenkov light requires caution in interpreting CLI.