We report on a novel compact laser-driven neutron source with unprecedented short pulse duration (\textless 50 ps) and high flux (\textgreater 10$^{18}$ neutrons/cm$^{2}$/s), an order of magnitude higher than any existing source. In our experiments, high-energy electron jets are generated from thin (\textless 1 $\mu$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, conducting time-resolved neutron-damage studies at their characteristic evolution time-scales and for creating astrophysical conditions of heavy element synthesis in the laboratory.
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Authors
Ishay Pomerantz
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Eddie Mccary
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Alexander R. Meadows
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Alexey Arefiev
Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Aaron C. Bernstein
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Clay Chester
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Jose Cortez
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Michael E. Donovan
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Gilliss Dyer
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Erhard W. Gaul
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
David Hamilton
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Donghoon Kuk
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Arantxa Lestrade
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Chunhua Wang
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Todd Ditmire
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
Manuel B. Hegelich
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
