Manuel A. Pouchon

EPFL SB IPHYS LRS
PH D3 465 (Bâtiment PH)
Station 3
1015 Lausanne

Paul Scherrer Institut

Nuclear Energy and Safety Department Head of the Laboratory for Nuclear Materials (LNM) Leader of the Advanced Nuclear Materials Group (ANM) OHLD/102 5232 Villigen PSI Switzerland Tel: +41 56 310 22 45
Researcher in experimental and theoretical materials science, specializing in the development of nuclear fuels since 1997, and structural materials for nuclear reactors since 2004. Presently leading nuclear materials lab (LNM) and the advanced nuclear materials (ANM) group and programme at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland. The applicability of different material candidates in advanced nuclear reactors is researched. Especially different aspects of radiation damage are investigated. For this purpose the concept of sample miniaturization is applied and further developed. Recently leading a new activity in particle fuel production and application. Previously working for the FUJI project at PSI, where different nuclear fuel forms for fast reactors were produced, characterized and finally irradiated in reactor. This work was performed in collaboration with the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) and Nuclear Research & consultancy Group (NRG) in the Netherlands. Previously an International Fellow at JNC investigating the thermal conductivity, sintering behaviour, and mechanical interaction of ceramic-sphere fuel beds; this includes the use of finite element methods for simulating various behaviours. Previously at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and for the Inert Matrix Fuel Project for burning plutonium in light water reactors, investigating the thermal conductivity and the diffusion and solubility of fission products of a zirconia-based non-fertile matrix.

Education

Contribution to the study of a zirconia based nuclear fuel for plutonium usage in light water reactor

| Doctorat ès Sciences Mention Interdisciplinaire

1999 – 1999 Université de Genève, Faculté des Sciences
Directed by Prof. Dr. Paul Tissot, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Claude Degueldre

Photorefraktiver Effekt in protonenimplantierten KNbO3 Wellenleitern

| Physics

1996 – 1996 ETH Zürich, Institut für Quantenelektonik, Laboratorium für Nichlineare Optik
Directed by Prof. Dr. Peter Günter, Simon Brülisauer

Professionals experiences

Laboratory Head

Leader of the Advance Nuclear Material (ANM) Group

Materials Scientist

Materials Scientist

International Fellow

PhD Student

Teaching & PhD

PhD Students

Natan Jules Garrivier, Sebastian Niedermeyer

Past EPFL PhD Students

Lijuan Cui, Aaron William Colldeweih, Kwanghoon Choi, Andrea Cavaliere, Shaileyee Bhattacharya, Okan Yetik, Nastruzzi Anna

Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector

Loïc Guillaume Fave

Courses

Advanced topics in nuclear reactor materials

ETH-530

To comprehend advanced aspects of materials science as applied to nuclear power (fission and fusion), to get acquainted with materials for advanced plants, advanced damage characterization and life-time assessments

Effects of radiation on materials

MSE-600

The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary background to understand the effects of irradiation on pure metals and on alloys used in the nuclear industry. The relation between the radiation-induced defects and the evolution of the mechanical properties is highlighted.

Fusion and industrial plasma technologies

PHYS-632

The course provides an overview of the technologies that are essential for fusion developments and for industrial plasma applications, highlighting the synergies between the two fields. The aim is to provide a combined theoretical and experimental background to the various topics.

LNM Workshop 2023

MSE-672

Seminar for PhD/master-students and postdocs on experimental nuclear materials research and simulation for present and future nuclear systems, with some emphasis on advanced manufacturing and analytics. In a group project the students will work on and present scientific and framing aspects.