Neutron generation with pyroelectric crystal heated by laser light

Abstract This study demonstrated neutron generation using a laser-heated pyroelectric crystal under low-pressure D 2 conditions. A LiTaO 3 crystal was heated using a 1047 nm Nd:YLF laser to induce a pyroelectric effect, generating a high electric field that accelerated the excess compensating charge and D <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mrow/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> </mml:math> . Numerical calculations based on Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate the ion trajectories, scattering events, and neutron yield as functions of D 2 pressure and electrode gap. The experiments confirmed neutron production without the use of tips or multiple crystals, achieving a simple and miniaturized structure. The maximum neutron yield of approximately 4.5 × 10 2 n s −1 was observed at 0.3 Pa, which was consistent with the theoretical predictions. These results indicate that a compact neutron source can be realized using laser heated pyroelectric crystals, offering potential applications in confined environments.