Ultrashort pulsed neutron source.
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  μm) 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.
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
I
I
Pomerantz
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
E
E
McCary
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
A R
AR
Meadows
Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
A
A
Arefiev
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
A C
AC
Bernstein
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
C
C
Chester
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
J
J
Cortez
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
M E
ME
Donovan
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
G
G
Dyer
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
E W
EW
Gaul
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
D
D
Hamilton
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
D
D
Kuk
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
A C
AC
Lestrade
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
C
C
Wang
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
T
T
Ditmire
Center for High Energy Density Science, C1510, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
B M
BM
Hegelich