Targets for producing high purity I-123

Tellurium powder in improved targets is bombarded with a cyclotron beam to produce Xe-123. Flowing gas streams carry the Xe-123 through one cold trap which removes Xe-123 that subsequently decays to I-123. During this bombardment energy is deposited in the target material causing its temperature to rise. Some of the tellurium vaporizes and subsequently condenses on surfaces that are cooler than the vaporization temperature. Provision is made for the repeated bombardment of this condensed tellurium.