Synthetic thumb|Artificial nuclide americium-241 emitting alpha particles inserted into a cloud chamber for visualisation Synthetic radionuclides are deliberately synthesised using nuclear reactors, particle accelerators or radionuclide generators: As well as being extracted from nuclear waste, radioisotopes can be produced deliberately with nuclear reactors, exploiting the high flux of neutrons present. These neutrons activate elements placed within the reactor. A typical product from a nuclear reactor is iridium-192. The elements that have a large propensity to take up the neutrons in the reactor are said to have a high neutron cross-section. Particle accelerators such as cyclotrons accelerate particles to bombard a target to produce radionuclides. Cyclotrons accelerate protons at a target to produce positron-emitting radionuclides, e.g. fluorine-18. Radionuclide generators contain a parent radionuclide that decays to produce a radioactive daughter. The parent is usually produced in a nuclear reactor. A typical example is the technetium-99m generator used in nuclear medicine. The parent produced in the reactor is molybdenum-99.
Synthetic thumb|Artificial nuclide americium-241 emitting alpha particles inserted into a cloud chamber, for visualisation Synthetic radionuclides are deliberately synthesised using nuclear reactors, particle accelerators or radionuclide generators: As well as being extracted from nuclear waste, radioisotopes can be produced deliberately with nuclear reactors, explo.iting the high flux of neutrons present. These neutrons activate elements placed within the reactor A typical product from a nuclear reactor is iridium-192. The elements that have a large propensity to take up the neutrons in the reactor are said to have a high neutron cross-section. Particle accelerators such as cyclotrons accelerate particles to bombard a target to produce radionuclides. Cyclotrons accelerate protons at a target to produce positron-emitting radionuclides e.g. fluorine-18. Radionuclide generators contain a parent radionuclide that decays to produce a radioactive daughter. The parent is usually produced in a nuclear reactor. A typical example is the technetium-99m generator used in nuclear medicine. The parent produced in the reactor is molybdenum-99.