Patent Number: 062087045
Section: claims

1. A method of producing a product isotope by isotopic conversion reaction comprising: providing a target;  directing an electron beam having intensity of at least 50 microamps/cm.sup.2 onto a converter to generate a photon beam having photons of energy of at least 8 MeV; and  directing the photon beam onto the target to isotopically convert at least a portion of the target to the product isotope.  a) the thickness of the target material is about 7.5 centimeters, or less, and  b) the photon beam is generated by an electron beam impinging a heavy metal convertor, wherein the electron beam power density within the convertor is about 35,000 watts/cm.sup.3.  providing a target;  directing an electron beam having an intensity of at least 50 microamps/cm.sup.2 onto a converter to generate a photon beam; and  directing the photon beam onto the target to isotopically convert at least a portion of the target to the product isotope. 2. A method of claim 1 wherein: 3. A method of claim 1 wherein the intensity of the electron beam is at least 500 microamps/cm.sup.2. 4. A method of claim 1 wherein the photon beam has a peak energy level of at least 30 MeV. 5. A method of claim 1 wherein the photon beam has a peak energy level of at least 35 MeV. 6. A method of claim 1 wherein the convertor includes at least two separate convertor plates having different thicknesses. 7. A method of claim 6 further including the step of cooling the convertor. 8. The method of producing a product isotope by isotopic conversion reaction comprising: 9. A method of claim 8 wherein the photon beam has a peak energy level of at least 30 MeV. 10. A method of claim 8 wherein the photon beam has a peak energy level of at least 35 MeV.