A new scheme for a compact neutron source is proposed. Neutron generation effiency is achieved by using deuterated aerogels as a laser target. The deuterated aerogel irradiated by the short laser pulse at intensities ∼ 1018 W cm−2, may produce the high intensity monoenergenic neutron source. In the case of using aerogels as a target, the neutron yield may be higher than in a D2-cluster beam. Increasing the laser intensity from 1017 to 1018 W cm−2 does not increase the neutron yield at the irradiation of D2-clusters. In contrast it is anticipated that increasing the laser intensity in the same range as the irradiation of deuterated aerogels will increase neutron yield significantly. A rather interesting property of the proposed system, a very short duration neutron pulse from a small spatial region, is described.