Generation of high-energy ($>$15 MeV) neutrons using short pulse lasers

The production of high-energy ($>$15 MeV) neutrons has been demonstrated experimentally for the first time using the Titan laser as a driver of high-energy ion beams. Neutrons with energy of up to 18 MeV have been generated from $^{7}$Li(d,n)$^{8}$Be reactions driven by laser pulses with peak intensity 2$\times $10$^{19}$ W/cm$^{2}$, pulse duration of 9 ps and energy of 360 J. Three nuclear reactions, d(d,n)$^{3}$He, $^{7}$Li(d,n)$^{8}$Be, and $^{7}$Li(p,n)$^{7}$Be have been explored as potential candidates for high-energy neutron production using a 3D Monte Carlo simulation model. For each reaction the required driver ion beam energy and number have been determined. We found that for the $^{7}$Li(p,n)$^{7}$Be reaction 10$^{10}$ protons with energy $>$20 MeV are required to generate high-energy neutrons, while for the $^{7}$Li(d,n)$^{8}$Be reaction a comparable amount of deuterons with energy $>$5 MeV are needed.