New data on cross-sections of deuteron induced nuclear reactions on gold up to 50 MeV and comparison of production routes of medically relevant Au and Hg radioisotopes

Investigations of cross-sections of deuteron induced nuclear reactions on gold were extended up to 50 MeV by using the standard stacked foil irradiation technique and high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. New cross-sections are reported for the $^{197}$Au(d,xn)$^{197m,197g,195m,195g,193m,193g}$Hg and $^{197}$Au(d,x)$^{198m,198g,196m,196g,195,194}$Au nuclear reactions. The application for production of the medically relevant isotopes $^{198}$Au and $^{195m,195g,197m,197g}$Hg is discussed, including the comparison with other charged particle induced production routes. The possible use of the $^{197}$Au(d,x)$^{197m,197g,195m,193m}$Hg and $^{196m,196g}$Au reactions for monitoring deuteron beam parameters is also investigated.