The Director of the IFMIF-DONES España Consortium, Ángel Ibarra, took part on 24 October in the “Frontiers of Physics” lecture series, organized by the Carlos I Institute of Theoretical and Computational Physics at the University of Granada (UGR). His presentation, titled “The DONES Programme: Overview, Current Status, and Role in the Development of Fusion Energy,” provided an in-depth look at the progress of the project.

The DONES Programme aims to build a high-intensity neutron source capable of qualifying the materials required for the development of future fusion reactors, as well as contributing to the validation of key technologies and components under neutron dose conditions relevant to their end of life. The facility is based on a high-current light ion acceleratorimpacting a liquid lithium target, currently under construction in Escúzar (Granada).

The lecture outlined the current landscape of the various technologies necessary for the development of future fusion reactors, the main features of the facility under construction, its experimental capabilities, and the present status of the DONES Programme.