Ultrashort Pulsed Neutron Source

作者：Pomerantz I^*; McCary E; Meadows A R; Arefiev A; Bernstein A C; Chester C; Cortez J; Donovan M E; Dyer G; Gaul E W; Hamilton D; Kuk D; Lestrade A C; Wang C; Ditmire T; Hegelich B M

来源：Physical Review Letters, 2014, 113(18): 184801.

DOI：10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.184801

We report on a novel compact laser-driven neutron source with an unprecedented short pulse duration (<50 ps) and high peak flux (>10(18) n/cm(2)/s), an order of magnitude higher than any existing source. In our experiments, high-energy electron jets are generated from thin (<3 mu m) plastic targets irradiated by a petawatt laser. These intense electron beams are employed to generate neutrons from a metal converter. Our method opens venues for enhancing neutron radiography contrast and for creating astrophysical conditions of heavy element synthesis in the laboratory.

• 出版日期2014-10-27