Various examples are provided for portable neutron imaging. In one example, a portable neutron-imaging system is described. A compact neutron source assembly can comprise an ion-beam bombardment source generating an isotropic source of monoenergetic neutrons. The neutron-imaging system does not include a moderator or collimator. Instead, the emission source and image-capture apparatus are placed in close proximity to an object to be imaged. Quality images were obtained with short exposure times of less than 20 seconds.