In radiopharmacy, what is the primary purpose of a cyclotron?

• A. To generate gamma rays
• B. To cool targets
• C. To measure radiation
• D. To accelerate subatomic particles to create radionuclides

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that a cyclotron is used to make radionuclides by speeding up charged particles and smashing them into target nuclei. By accelerating protons (and sometimes other ions) in a magnetic field and guiding them to a target, nuclear reactions occur that convert stable elements into radioactive isotopes such as fluorine‑18, carbon‑11, or nitrogen‑13. These radionuclides are the key components for radiopharmaceuticals used in PET imaging. The cyclotron itself doesn’t primarily generate gamma rays, and while cooling targets or measuring radiation are necessary tasks in operation, they aren’t the primary purpose of the device.