Production of an isomeric, excited radioactive nuclear beam

A momentum-analyzed, isomeric, radioactive ${}_{}{}^{18}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{F}_{}^{\mathit{m}}{}_{}{}^{}$ beam (${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{x}}$=1.12 MeV, ${\mathit{T}}_{1/2}$=163 ns) has been produced with the reaction ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ ${(}^{17}$O${,}^{18}$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{\mathit{m}}$ ${)}^{11}$B at E${(}^{17}$O)=70 MeV. The ${}_{}{}^{18}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{F}_{}^{\mathit{m}}{}_{}{}^{}$ ions were focused onto a secondary target using a compact superconducting solenoid lens and scattering of ${}_{}{}^{18}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{F}_{}^{\mathit{m}}{}_{}{}^{}$ from Au and carbon targets was observed. A conversion efficiency of >${10}^3$ ${}_{}{}^{18}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{F}_{}^{\mathit{m}}{}_{}{}^{}$/s per 100 particle nanoamps of ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ was obtained using a 1.1 mg/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ natural carbon production target.