Production and application progress of the radioactive cobalt source

Cobalt source plays an important role in the application of radioisotopes. A completed industrial and service system and safety control system have been well developed in China. The Cobalt source are widely used in measurement instrumentation, nondestructive testing, safety testing, radiation production, irradiation sterilization, food preservation, cancer treatment, etc. This paper describes the current technology situation of the cobalt production and application. The 70% industrial market demand n China could be satisfied by domestic production, however, it's still required importation tn high activity of gamma knife medical source. And the gap of importation still goes up with irradiation processing and medical radiation increases. The production and application of cobalt source technology in China are mature, some application systems, such as the container safety monitoring system, gamma radiation imaging system, gamma knife cancer treatment system, have reached the international advanced level. (authors)