One of the key challenges of the IFMIF-DONES project is the development and validation of sensors and monitoring devices capable of withstanding large neutron fluxes. This is the reason why the particle accelerator was a topic addressed at the PhDiaFusion Summer School of Plasma Diagnostics celebrated between September 20^th and 24^th in Niepołomice Royal Castle, in Poland.

This summer school, organised by the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN) and the Institute for Magnetic Fusion Research from CEA, dedicated its last session to IFMIF-DONES, with two presentations by members of the partners in the preparatory phase of the project.

Frederik Arbeiter, from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany, analysed the alterations in the property of materials caused by neutrons. Davide Bernardi, from Agenzia nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, L’energia e lo Sviluppo Económico Sostenibile (ENEA), described in detail the status of the particle accelerator project and future challenges.