Nuclear excitation functions of proton-induced reactions (E_p = 35 - 90 MeV) from Fe, Cu, and Al

Fe, Cu, and Al stacked foils were irradiated by 90 MeV protons at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's Isotope Production Facility to measure nuclear cross sections for the production of medically relevant isotopes, such as ^52gMn, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁴⁸Cr, ⁵⁵Co, ^58mCo and ⁵⁷Ni. The decay of radioactive isotopes produced during irradiation was monitored using high-purity germanium gamma spectroscopy over the months following irradiation. Proton fluence was determined using the ^natAl(p,x)²²Na, ^natCu(p,x)⁶²Zn ^natCu(p,x)⁶⁵Zn, and ^natCu(p,x)⁵⁶Co monitor reactions. Calculated cross sections were compared against literature values and theoretical TALYS predictions. Notably this work includes the first reported independent cross section measurements of ^natCu(p,x)^58mCo and ^natCu(p,x)^58gCo.