Substantiation of the Possibility to Obtain ¹⁷⁷Lu on the Average Flux Research Reactor IRT-T

Consideration is given to the possibility of obtaining ¹⁷⁷Lu radionuclide on the average flux research IRT-T nuclear reactor. The paper presents the results of simulating the neutron spectrum of the central channel CEC-1 of the IRT-T research reactor in the MCU program, calculations of the production of ¹⁷⁷Lu from ¹⁷⁶Yb₂O₃ in the CEC-1 neutron field and the dose rate from different radionuclides at a distance of 1 m and experiments on the production of ¹⁷⁷Lu and its separation. The results of calculations and experiments are in agreement within an error of no more than 10% for ¹⁷⁷Lu. The performed calculations and experiments have made it possible to carry out a preliminary assessment of the activity of ¹⁷⁷Lu radionuclide, which can be obtained on the IRT-T research nuclear reactor, and also determine radiation protection required for working with radioactive ytterbium and lutetium.