Compact, high-yield laser-driven neutron source for fast neutron radiography

Abstract

Compact, high-yield neutron sources are essential for applications in imaging, materials science, and security screening, yet existing systems remain bulky and costly. Here, we demonstrate a laser-driven photoneutron source producing up to 3.0 (± 0.8) × 107 neutrons per shot from a ∼270 MeV electron beam generated by a 150 TW laser. These measurements provide experimental validation of a predictive framework that reliably projects significantly higher yields—up to 1.6 × 108 neutrons/shot with optimized converter materials. We further show that the resulting neutron energy spectrum is nearly insensitive to fluctuations in electron energy and converter geometry, ensuring the spectral stability required for pulsed fast neutron transmission spectroscopy. In simulation, this stability enabled reliable material discrimination, distinguishing explosives such as cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) from benign substances within a 10 s acquisition time. Together, these results establish a validated and scalable pathway toward next-generation, high-fidelity compact neutron sources for real-world applications. © 2026 The Author(s).