Status of a mirror type 14 MeV neutron source project in Novosibirsk

A gas-dynamic trap is a Budker-type mirror machine with axially symmetric magnetic field and a high mirror ratio, operated with relatively cold and dense plasma. Oblique injection of high energy deuterium and tritium neutral beams into the warm target plasma results in build up of population of fast anisotropic ions. Their density is strongly peaked near the turning points, in which neutron flux as high as 2 MW/m2 (or even more) can be generated within ∼1-2 m2 testing zone. The paper discusses status of experiments at a scalable model of the gas dynamic trap and current upgrade of the device. Major goal to be achieved in the nearest time is an increase of the electron temperature up to Te ≅ 300 eV that will immediately prove a practicability of moderate power neutron source with a flux of 0.45 / 0.5 MW/m2. (author)