EXCITATION FUNCTIONS OF 3He- AND alpha -PARTICLE INDUCED NUCLEAR REACTIONS ON NATURAL KRYPTON: PRODUCTION OF 82Sr AT A COMPACT CYCLOTRON.

Excitation functions have been measured for **n**a**tKr(**3He, xn)**8**2**,**8**3**,**8**5**m,**8**5**g,**8**7**mSr and **n**a**tKr(**3He, pxn)**8**1**,**8**2**m**,**8**3**,**8**4**m**,**8**4**g**,**8**6Rb reactions over the energy range of 10-33 Mev and for **n**a**tKr( alpha ,xn)**8**2,**8**3**,**8**5**m,**8**5**g**,**8**7**mSr and **n**a**tKr(+61,pxn)**8**1**,**8**2**m**, left bracket **3**,**8**4**,**8**6Rb processes from 10 to 25 Mev. Cross section data and calculated thick target yields show that for the production of ** left bracket **2Sr in this energy region the **3He-particle induced process is more suitable than the alpha-induced process. A high current gas target was constructed to test the **8**2Sr-production yield under actual production conditions using 36 Mev **3He-particles. A thick target yield of 1. 49 mu Ci (55 kBq(1) mu Ah was achieved using natural krypton. The ** left bracket **2Kr (**3He, 3n) **8**2Sr process is technically feasible for production and, if long parasitic irradiations could be carried out, the method would be of considerable interest for use at a medium-sized cyclotron.