“In the microstructure revealed by the ion etching of the European reference material for the development of magnetic confinement nuclear fusion, EUROFER97, a microscopic signature has been inscribed, as if cut with the precision of a diamond. It bears the names and symbols of three key players in Europe’s fusion effort, all with a strong Spanish DNA: CIEMAT and its National Fusion Laboratory, the IFMIF-DONES project and the international school of fusion science and technology, DONES Xcitech”.

Marcelo Roldán Blanco, who is responsible at CIEMAT for the area of structural materials for fusion in the framework of the development of the National Strategic Plan for Fusion, shared this information on his social networks.

In his explanation of how he achieved this micrograph, Roldán Blanco emphasises the importance of nuclear fusion research: ‘To ‘etch’ the surface of this martensitic steel, a focused gallium ion beam was used, which also displaced the atoms on the surface, leaving their nanometric signature. Similarly, advanced training programmes such as the DONES Xcitech course – in which I am currently participating as a speaker (thank you, Tonči Tadić from Ruđer Bošković Institute) – or large infrastructures such as IFMIF-DONES, leave a lasting impression on those involved, solidifying collective knowledge and directing it towards real-world applications”.

The CIEMAT microscopist ends his article by empowering the role of the international scientific community: “International collaboration and specialised training are leaving an indelible mark on the scientific community, preparing it for the challenges ahead on the road to clean and sustainable energy”.