A neutron activator for neutron activation of a material, the neutron activator being configured to produce neutrons from an interaction with a proton beam emitted along a beam axis, the proton beam having an energy comprised between about 16 MeV and 30 MeV, preferably of about 30 MeV, and a proton intensity above 1 mA and up to 1.5 mA, the neutron activator comprising: - a neutron source (11, 11') comprising: a housing (12, 12') extending along a longitudinal axis (B, B') intended to be arranged parallel to the beam axis, the housing (12, 12') presenting an opening (14, 14') through which the proton beam may enter the neutron source (11, 11'), and a metallic target (20, 20') configured to produce neutrons through the interaction with the proton beam, the target (20, 20') comprising a plurality of adjacent plates (21, 21'), preferably made of a material comprising Beryllium and/or Tantalum, each arranged transversally, in particular perpendicularly, with respect to the longitudinal axis (B, B'), the plates (21, 21') being arranged parallel to each other and centered on the longitudinal axis (B, B'), each plate (21, 21') presenting an upstream surface directed towards the opening (14, 14') of the housing (12, 12') and a downstream surface opposite the upstream surface, a cooling circuit configured to cool the metallic target (20, 20'), - a first reflector-moderator preferably made of a material comprising Beryllium and including an activation area configured to accommodate the neutron source (11, 11') and the material to be activated. - a neutron source (11, 11') comprising: a housing (12, 12') extending along a longitudinal axis (B, B') intended to be arranged parallel to the beam axis, the housing (12, 12') presenting an opening (14, 14') through which the proton beam may enter the neutron source (11, 11'), and a metallic target (20, 20') configured to produce neutrons through the interaction with the proton beam, the target (20, 20') comprising a plurality of adjacent plates (21, 21'), preferably made of a material comprising Beryllium and/or Tantalum, each arranged transversally, in particular perpendicularly, with respect to the longitudinal axis (B, B'), the plates (21, 21') being arranged parallel to each other and centered on the longitudinal axis (B, B'), each plate (21, 21') presenting an upstream surface directed towards the opening (14, 14') of the housing (12, 12') and a downstream surface opposite the upstream surface, a cooling circuit configured to cool the metallic target (20, 20'), a housing (12, 12') extending along a longitudinal axis (B, B') intended to be arranged parallel to the beam axis, the housing (12, 12') presenting an opening (14, 14') through which the proton beam may enter the neutron source (11, 11'), and a metallic target (20, 20') configured to produce neutrons through the interaction with the proton beam, the target (20, 20') comprising a plurality of adjacent plates (21, 21'), preferably made of a material comprising Beryllium and/or Tantalum, each arranged transversally, in particular perpendicularly, with respect to the longitudinal axis (B, B'), the plates (21, 21') being arranged parallel to each other and centered on the longitudinal axis (B, B'), each plate (21, 21') presenting an upstream surface directed towards the opening (14, 14') of the housing (12, 12') and a downstream surface opposite the upstream surface, a cooling circuit configured to cool the metallic target (20, 20'), - a first reflector-moderator preferably made of a material comprising Beryllium and including an activation area configured to accommodate the neutron source (11, 11') and the material to be activated.