Progress of “Nuclear Photonics”

Abstract

Recently, “Nuclear Photonics” has been established as a new field of science involving Laser Science, Accelerator Physics, Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, Astro-Physics, and so on. We describe the recent study on the MeV-energy ion acceleration via magnetic reconnection process using high-intensity laser, as a part of our activities on Nuclear Photonics. We also introduce recent studies on Laser-driven Neutron Source, which have the potential to be the third neutron source after nuclear reactors and accelerators.