Source of thermonuclear neutrons based on gas dynamic trap: Status of conceptual design and alternative applications

The paper reviews some results of conceptual design of the 14 MeV D–T neutron source dedicated for fusion reactor materials and components testing. The source is based on use of the so called ‘gas dynamic trap’ (GDT) which was first proposed and studied at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (Novosibirsk). The neutron flux in the test zone of the source makes up 2–2.5 MW m−2 under realistic assumptions on achievable plasma parameters and amounts of tritium circulating in the system. An alternative application of using the proposed neutron source as a basis of pilot facility for long-lived radioactive waste transmutation is studied. It is shown that incineration of minor actinides in the transmutator provides a drastic reduction of amount and activity of long-lived waste.