DOE OSTI · 3366841
High average-flux laser-driven neutron source
Abstract
Laser-driven neutron generation is an attractive alternative to more established methods for compact, short-pulse-duration neutron sources with applications in medical science, material science and imaging. Despite extensive investigation of various techniques, achieving performance comparable to nuclear reactors or conventional accelerators remains challenging. In this work, we generate a stable, high-repetition-rate laser-driven neutron source reaching a record average flux of 7.8 × 10 7 n/sr/s, improving on other existing laser-based sources by more than one order of magnitude. Our approach is based on a two-step process where electrons are accelerated to relativistic energies via laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA), and subsequently generate neutrons through Bremsstrahlung emission followed by photonuclear reactions in a tungsten converter. Experimental results, supported by Monte Carlo simulations, show a neutron flux of 3.0 × 10 7 n/cm 2 /s near the target, on par with some compact accelerator-based neutron sources. Additionally, a direct comparison with the target-normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) pitcher-catcher scheme, performed on the same laser system, reveals a significantly higher total neutron yield of 3.9 × 10 8 neutrons per shot, outperforming the TNSA scheme by several orders of magnitude. These findings represent a significant advancement towards the development of practical laser-driven neutron sources and highlight the advantages of LWFA-based neutron generation for future applications.
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Vallières, Simon [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT)] (ORCID:0000000251138478), Fillion-Gourdeau, François [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT); Infinite Potential Laboratories, Waterloo, ON (Canada)] (ORCID:0009000354337477), Fourmaux, Sylvain [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT)] (ORCID:0000000207547338), Poupart-Raîche, Benjamin [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT)] (ORCID:0009000399478871), Dietrich, Nils [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT); University of Applied Sciences, Munich (Germany)], Beier, Nicholas F. [University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)], Lelièvre, Ronan [Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (ASNR), Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance (France). Laboratoire de Micro-irradiation, de Métrologie et de Dosimétrie des Neutrons (PSE-SANTE/SDOS)] (ORCID:0009000046439455), Catrix, Elias [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT)], Maltais, Joël [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT)], Hussein, Amina E. [University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada)], Antici, Patrizio [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT)] (ORCID:0000000349626381), Légaré, François [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT)], MacLean, Steve [Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Montreal, QC, Canada). Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT); Infinite Potential Laboratories, Waterloo, ON (Canada)]. 2025-11-20. High average-flux laser-driven neutron source. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66535-9
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