Scientists at the University of York have shown that particle accelerators, which typically generate large amounts of unused radiation during experiments, could serve a second purpose by producing medical isotopes used in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The research, led by nuclear physicist Mamad Eslami from the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, explores how high-energy photons deposited in accelerator beam dumps could be directed toward isotope production without interfering with the accelerator’s main scientific operation.
Eslami, M., Jenkins, D. G., & Bashkanov, M. (2025). Unconventional <math> <mmultiscripts> <mi>Cu</mi> <mprescripts/> <none/> <mn>67</mn> </mmultiscripts> </math> production using high-energy bremsstrahlung and cross section evaluation. Physical Review C, 112(5), 054603. https://doi.org/10.1103/954z-cn34
Particle accelerators generate intense beams of particles or photons for fundamental physics research. Once these beams reach the end of their path, the remaining energy is absorbed by large shielding structures known as beam dumps. This radiation is normally treated as waste heat. The York team examined whether this energy could be repurposed to form isotopes, focusing specifically on copper-67, a radioisotope that has attracted growing interest in cancer therapy. Copper-67 emits radiation that can damage cancer cells and simultaneously allows clinicians to track how treatment is progressing, a property that has led to ongoing clinical trials in prostate cancer and neuroblastoma. Supplies of the isotope remain limited because production traditionally requires dedicated accelerator time, specialised targets, and strict handling procedures.
Mamad Eslami from University of York stated,
“Our method lets high-energy accelerators support cancer medicine while continuing their core scientific work.”
The group’s approach involves allowing the high-energy bremsstrahlung photons in the beam dump to interact with zinc targets, gradually creating copper-67 without affecting the primary physics experiments. Because large research accelerators operate for long, continuous periods, the team argues that useful quantities of isotopes could accumulate as a background process. Their study suggests that this method may be capable of delivering a slow but steady output, which could complement existing production routes rather than replace them. It also presents the possibility of expanding the technique to other isotopes relevant to nuclear medicine.
Reports from both the University of York and physics news outlets note that the method does not require major modifications to accelerator facilities. Instead, it would rely on integrating specialised target assemblies inside or adjacent to beam-dump structures where radiation is already concentrated. According to Eslami, this would allow high-energy accelerators to continue their core research programmes while supporting medical-isotope generation. The study also includes cross-section evaluations to characterise how efficiently copper-67 can be formed under the beam-dump conditions expected at modern laboratories.
The next phase of the work involves collaboration with accelerator facilities and clinical partners to test whether the approach can be deployed at scale. The team hopes to evaluate long-term target durability, shielding requirements, and the consistency of isotope yield. If the concept performs as expected, accelerators used for basic research could become supplemental producers of medical isotopes, providing a more reliable supply chain for therapies that depend on them. The researchers suggest that this could improve availability while making better use of energy that would otherwise be lost.
Their findings, published in Physical Review C, add to a wider discussion within the nuclear-science community about how existing facilities might contribute to medical-isotope production. The work highlights an opportunity for multi-purpose design in large scientific infrastructures, where secondary processes can operate in parallel with fundamental research to meet practical needs in medicine.
Adrian graduated with a Masters Degree (1st Class Honours) in Chemical Engineering from Chester University along with Harris. His master’s research aimed to develop a standardadised clean water oxygenation transfer procedure to test bubble diffusers that are currently used in the wastewater industry commercial market. He has also undergone placments in both US and China primarely focused within the R&D department and is an associate member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).