Laser-Driven Neutron Source

In the Neutron Resonance Analysis (NRA), a sample is irradiated with pulsed neutrons, and the neutron energy that causes resonance reactions with the nuclei in the sample is measured by the time-of-flight (TOF) method. We developed a Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) system using a Laser-Driven Neutron Source (LDNS) with the aim of miniaturizing the Non-Destructive Analysis (NDA) system for measuring Nuclear Materials (NMs). We conducted a NRTA experiment using the LDNS developed by Osaka University showing that the it can successfully identify the nuclides in the sample. A miniaturized NDA system can be expected in the future. Since 2022, we have been developing Neutron Resonance Fission Neutron Analysis (NRFNA) as a method for accurately measuring a small amount of fissile material.

References

• J. Lee et al., Designs and neutronic characteristics of an epithermal neutron moderator at ambient temperature for neutron time-of-flight measurements, J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 59, (2022) 1546-1557.
• A. Yogo et al., Laser-driven Neutron Generation Realizing Single-Shot Resonance Spectroscopy, Phys. Rev. X. 13, 011011 (2023).
• 10-1 Development of a Compact Nondestructive Analysis System for Measuring Nuclear Material | JAEA R&D Review 2022-23
• Press Release: A new law for generating neutrons with a laser - A compact device for identifying elements in 100 nanosecond -

Experimental setup of neutron transmission
measurements using the Osaka LDNS