Exploring nuclear photonics with a laser driven neutron source.

Neutron beams have been providing indispensable tools for a wide range of fields in modern science and engineering. Recently, a new type of pulsed neutron source has been developed, known as laser-driven neutron source (LDNS). The LDNSs utilize laser-accelerated ions, including protons and deuterons as a primary beam and generate neutrons from a secondary target (lithium, beryllium, etc) via a nuclear reaction. Applying an additional moderator part, LDNSs can provide a broad energy range of neutrons (meV ∼ MeV). This paper aims to introduce the current status of LDNS and the results of application-oriented experiments implemented at the Institute of Laser Engineering (ILE) of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]