Production of copper-67 from an enriched zinc-68 target

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a heating element;

a sublimation vessel disposed adjacent the heating element such that the heating element heats a portion thereof;

a collection vessel removably disposed within the sublimation vessel and being open on an end thereof; and

a crucible configured to sealingly position a solid mixture against the collection vessel.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the collection vessel is formed of at least two separable pieces.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sublimation vessel includes:

a heat volume portion disposed within a region of the heating element, and

a warm volume portion that extends from the heat volume portion to a location outside the region of the heating element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a translational stage connected to at least one of the sublimation vessel or the heating element and configured to shift in a vertical direction to position the at least one of the sublimation vessel or the heating element at a location over the solid mixture and the collection vessel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to receive temperature data of at least one of the sublimation vessel, the collection vessel, and the crucible.

6. An assembly, comprising:

a front housing including:

a plate cavity including one or more converter plates therein, and

a front and a rear target window;

a rear housing connected to the front housing, the rear housing including a target cavity therein; and

a target crucible releasably accommodated within the target cavity of the rear housing and configured to hold a metal target.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the front housing further includes:

a first section housing the front target window,

a second section adjacent the first section and surrounding a portion of the plate cavity, and

a third section housing the rear target window, the third section abutting the rear housing.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the front housing further includes:

a coolant fluid input, and

a coolant fluid output,

wherein coolant is circulated through the plate cavity and the target cavity.

9. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the front and rear target windows are made of a material that permits passage of an electron beam.

10. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the front housing includes separable pieces to expose the plate cavity.