Figure 1
From: Proof-of-principle experiment for laser-driven cold neutron source
Illustration of neutron generation. Schematics is showing the (a) Fission, (b) spallation and (c) laser-driven pitcher-catcher schemes. Nuclear reactors produce neutrons by splitting of \(^{235}\)U nuclei in process known as fission, whereas the spallation reactions employ high energy ions to bombard a high Z target. On the other hand, the laser based schemes generate neutrons via light ion fusion and nuclear reactions in a converter target, known as catcher, such as \(^2_1d(d,n)^3_2He\) and \(^7Li(p,n)^7Be\) driven by multi-MeV ions produced from laser-driven thin foils known as pitcher. While fission reactors are continues by their nature, spallation and laser-driven sources are pulsed owing to the ultra-short duration of the driving ion beam, and that is in orders of μs and ps respectively.
