The paper presents the project and the development strategy of a continuously operating high-flux (>) fusion volumetric neutron source. The proposed facility is based on the gas-dynamic magnetic plasma confinement device with high-power () neutral beam injection. Project roadmap includes construction of several prototype installations addressing a specific set of physics and engineering problems, starting from the continuous operation of critical subsystems and ending with advanced plasma physics problems specific to axisymmetric mirror-based plasma confinement machines. The project aims to build the widest possible international collaboration to create a multi-purpose experimental facility, which could solve a set of problems most critical to deployment of economical fusion power worldwide. The paper details on the core principles of operation of a gas-dynamic neutron source, presents the parameters, expected performance and basic construction principles of intermediate and final devices, and outlines the ways to resolve the scientific and engineering challenges that constitute the project.

An analysis is carried out into the possibility of using a device topologically equivalent to a nonparaxial magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stabilizer as a divertor for the projected ALIANCE source of fusion neutrons based on the gas-dynamic trap, which should operate in a continuous mode. A side effect of adding a divertor to a linear trap is the expected improvement in plasma MHD stability, which was previously observed at the TARA (Casey et al 1988 Phys. Fluids 31 2009 and HIEI (Yasaka et al 2001 Fusion Technol. 39 350-3) facilities. To assess the effect of MHD stabilization by a divertor, the article indicates a method for finding stability rings, and also calculates the degree of expansion of the plasma flux in the divertor. The analysis showed that a good divertor, which provides a high degree of expansion, cannot be a good MHD stabilizer, which provides a large margin of stability. The divertor configurations made up of two and three coils are studied, their advantages and disadvantages are described. The final part of the article presents the calculations of the magnetic field in an end cell with a superconducting divertor designed for the GDMT gas-dynamic multi-core trap project (Beklemishev et al 2013 Fusion Sci. Technol. 63 46-51).