Gas Dynamic Trap Neutron Source (DTNS) -- a key to fusion energy
POSTER
Abstract
The DTNS is based on the Gas Dynamic Trap at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics -- which has stable operation to $\beta \sim $60{\%}, T$_{e}$ increasing with neutral beam power to $>$200 eV, and classical behavior of hot ions (Ivanov and Beklemishev, this conf.). The DTNS provides $\sim $2 MW/m$^{2}$neutron flux in a 2.5 cm thick annular 20 l irradiated volume to enable aggressive programs in fusion materials development, tritium-breeding blankets (which do not have to breed initially because the DTNS burns less than 200 g/yr of T), and hybrid fission blankets. Together with the present OFES plasma science program, this would form an aggressive fusion energy program. The major issue is steady-state operation of a configuration that has been demonstrated during 5 ms pulses. The known issues are all engineering: cooling components impinged by beams, pumping the gas and regenerating the pumps. Any plasma physics issues, which appear on longer time scales, can be suppressed to low levels.
*This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by ORAU and by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.