Vincent Lamirand

EPFL SB IPHYS LRS
PH D3 475 (Bâtiment PH)
Station 3
1015 Lausanne

Expertise

Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, Reactor Physics, Measurement and Metrology, Monte Carlo Methods, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Reactions, Data Analysis, Ion Beam Analysis, Particle Accelerators (MeV).

Expertise

Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, Reactor Physics, Measurement and Metrology, Monte Carlo Methods, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Reactions, Data Analysis, Ion Beam Analysis, Particle Accelerators (MeV).

Mission

I am in charge of the research experimental activities at LRS, including the CROCUS experimental reactor and the LOTUS cavity. I am Deputy of the Head of the nuclear facilities Oskari Pakari, for supporting him in the management of the LRS controlled area in the PH building. Finally, I am contributing to the LRS teaching activities, for the management of the EPFL-ETH Zurich joint program in Nuclear engineering, with the Radiation detection lecture, and especially for the TP and Radiation and reactor experiments at our facilities.
I am one of the four Scientific staff members at the School Assembly, Basic Sciences Faculty Council, and Institute of Physics Council for the current mandate.
After a PhD on the measurement of (p,n) reactions cross sections on small accelerators (IRSN, France), I have worked on the development of neutron detectors and measurement methods for reactor physics (CEA, France). I am part of the LRS staff since October 2014. I have a double affiliation with the Paul Scherrer Institute since 2016, where I defended my tenure in 2020.

Education

PhD degree

| Nuclear Physics

2011 – 2011 UJF Grenoble 1 (France)
Directed by Prof. Eric Liatard (eric.liatard@lpsc.in2p3.fr), Dr. Vincent Gressier (vincent.gressier@irsn.fr)

Master Degree

| Physics, sp. in Subatomic Physics

2008 – 2008 UCB Lyon 1 (France)

Bachelor Degree

| Physics

2006 – 2006 UCB Lyon 1 (France)

Professionals experiences

Program manager of experimental research, Deputy Head of LRS nuclear facilities

Physicist, postdoctoral fellow

PhD student

A Monte Carlo Perspective on Reactor Kinetics: From Static and Dynamic Reactivity to Time-Dependent Simulations

C. MontecchioD. MancusiV. LamirandW. MonangeA. Zoia

Nuclear Science and Engineering. 2025. DOI : 10.1080/00295639.2025.2586414.

Investigation of Noise Detection Systems in the CROCUS Reactor from SANDcaStLE

F. B. DarbyC. KostelacM. SalibaV. LamirandS. D. Clarke  et al.

2025. 9th Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA 2025), Valencia, Spain, 2025-06-09 - 2025-06-13. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202533804015.

Comparison of high-fidelity transport code predictions against the NECTAR intra-pin reaction rate measurements

T. MagerM. HursinK. VaughnS. ChoiB. Kochunas  et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy. 2025. DOI : 10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111430.

Measurement of the Prompt Neutron Decay Constant in a Zero-Power Reactor Using a Novel 3D Detector System

M. SalibaV. LamirandW. MonangeF. VitulloM. Hursin  et al.

NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. 2025. DOI : 10.1080/00295639.2025.2456411.

CORTEX experiments – Part I: Modulation campaigns in AKR-2 & CROCUS for the validation of neutron noise codes

V. LamirandA. KnospeK. AmbrožičS. HübnerC. Lange  et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy. 2025. DOI : 10.1016/j.anucene.2024.110928.

Welch Method and Bootstrapping Applied to Subcritical Gamma Noise

F. B. DarbyS. J. TylerO. V. PakariV. P. LamirandS. D. Clarke  et al.

NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. 2025. DOI : 10.1080/00295639.2024.2445469.

Simulations of a new neutron imaging station at the CROCUS zero power reactor

M. SalibaE. H. LehmannP. TritkV. LamirandA. Pautz  et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences. 2025. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202533804012.

Revisiting the reactor period capabilities in TRIPOLI-4®

C. MontecchioD. MancusiV. LamirandW. MonangeA. Zoia

2025. International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, Denver, US, 2025-04-27 - 2025-04-30. p. 1166 - 1175. DOI : 10.13182/MC25-47121.

HONEY: High-Resolution Reactor Kinetics experiments in the CROCUS reactor

C. MontecchioT. J.-F. LigonnetD. MancusiW. MonangeO. V. Pakari  et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences. 2025. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202533804002.

Design and testing of a fiber-coupled fast neutron scintillation detector for low-power research reactors

A. P. B. C. Dupont-BembinoffO. V. PakariD. ClémentT. J.-F. LigonnetM. Hursin  et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences. 2025. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202533804003.

Towards the Direct Observation of Xenon-135 Poisoning in a Zero-Power Reactor via Gamma Spectroscopy

O. V. PakariA. LucasF. DarbyM. SalibaV. Lamirand  et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences. 2025. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202533804010.

Adaptive adjoint-based population-control methods for kinetic simulations in TRIPOLI-4

C. MontecchioD. MancusiV. LamirandW. MonangeA. Zoia

EPJ Nuclear Sciences & Technologies. 2025. DOI : 10.1051/epjn/2025069.

Pile-oscillation results for stainless steel with local and 3D global measurements

T. J.-F. LigonnetA. LaureauO. V. PakariD. ClémentA. P. B. C. Dupont-Bembinoff  et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences. 2025. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202533804004.

Analysis and Reproduction of Stainless-steel Integral Experiments Towards Nuclear Data Assimilation

T. J.-F. Ligonnet / A. PautzV. P. Lamirand (Dir.)

Lausanne, EPFL, 2025. DOI : 10.5075/epfl-thesis-11638.

From real life to scale model (and back again): The life of CROCUS in the student’s mind

V. Lamirand

EPJ Web of Conferences. 2025. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202533811002.

CORTEX experiments, Part III: Experimental determination of the zero power transfer function of AKR-2 with reliable uncertainties

A. KnospeS. HübnerK. AmbrožičM. ViebachC. Lange  et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy. 2024. DOI : 10.1016/j.anucene.2024.110686.

CORTEX experiments, Part II: Postprocessing of neutron noise time series to determine reliable mean and uncertainties

K. AmbrožičA. KnospeO. PakariS. HübnerM. Hursin  et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy. 2024. DOI : 10.1016/j.anucene.2024.110704.

Revision of PSI calculation capabilities and validation experience on the BEPU-type reactor dosimetry applications

A. VasilievH. FerroukhiM. PecchiaD. RochmanA. Laureau  et al.

2024. 17 International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry (Part II), Lausanne, Switzerland, 2023-05-21 - 2023-05-26. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202430803011.

Towards a highly efficient and unbiased population-control algorithm for kinetic Monte Carlo simulations

C. MontecchioV. LamirandD. MancusiW. MonangeA. Zoia

2024. Joint International Conference on Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications + Monte Carlo, Paris, France, 2024-10-20 - 2024-10-24. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202430209006.

Fast simulation of neutron noise using the Transient Fission Matrix approach and validation on the CROCUS reactor

A. LaureauM. BegueV. LamirandE. MerleO. Pakari

2024. Joint International Conference on Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications + Monte Carlo, Paris, France, 2024-10-20 - 2024-10-24. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202430208002.

Neutron-Gamma Noise Measurements in a Zero-Power Reactor Using Organic Scintillators

F. B. DarbyO. V. PakariM. Y. HuaV. LamirandS. D. Clarke  et al.

Ieee Transactions On Nuclear Science. 2024. DOI : 10.1109/TNS.2023.3337657.

Gamma-ray Spectroscopy in Low-Power Nuclear Research Reactors

O. V. PakariA. LucasF. B. DarbyV. P. LamirandT. Maurer  et al.

Journal Of Nuclear Engineering. 2024. DOI : 10.3390/jne5010003.

High-Resolution Modeling Without Computation Slowdown for PETALE in CROCUS

T. LigonnetA. LaureauA. PautzV. Lamirand

Nuclear Science and Engineering. 2024. DOI : 10.1080/00295639.2024.2357963.

Gamma noise to non-invasively monitor nuclear research reactors

O. PakariT. MagerP. FrajtagA. PautzV. Lamirand

Scientific Reports. 2024. DOI : 10.1038/s41598-024-59127-y.

Measurement of the Prompt Decay Constant in a Zero Power Reactor Using a Novel 3D Detector System

M. SalibaO. PakariW. MonangeA. PautzV. Lamirand

2024. International Conference on Physics of Reactors, San Francisco, United States, 2024-04-21 - 2024-04-24. p. 155 - 163. DOI : 10.13182/PHYSOR24-43877.

Large volume dosimetry for BLOOM in CROCUS

A. P. B. C. Dupont-Bembinoff

2024

Design of an Open-Loop Pile-Oscillation Program in the CROCUS Reactor

T. LigonnetA. LaureauP. SimsblerA. PautzV. Lamirand

IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. 2024. DOI : 10.1109/TNS.2024.3371183.

Sub-critical gamma noise measurements in the CROCUS zero-power reactor

F. B. DarbyO. V. PakariM. Y. HuaV. P. LamirandS. D. Clarke  et al.

2024. International Conference on Physics of Reactors, San Francisco, United States, 2024-04-21 - 2024-04-24. p. 118 - 127. DOI : 10.13182/PHYSOR24-43501.

Intra-pin Reaction Rate Measurements in the CROCUS Experimental Reactor

T. MagerO. PakariM. HursinT. LigonnetA. Pautz  et al.

IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. 2024. DOI : 10.1109/TNS.2024.3370371.

Modeling noise experiments performed at AKR-2 and CROCUS zero-power reactors

M. HursinA. ZoiaA. RouchonA. BrighentiI. Zmijarevic  et al.

Annals Of Nuclear Energy. 2023. DOI : 10.1016/j.anucene.2023.110066.

Development of a multi-channel gamma-blind fast neutron detector based on wavelength shifting fibers embedded in a ZnS:Ag epoxy mixture

A. WolfertzR. AdamsG. PerretV. Lamirand

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 2023. DOI : 10.1016/j.nima.2023.168385.

Analysis of the preliminary campaign for the PETALE program

A. LaureauA. GruelV. LamirandT. LigonnetA. Sardet  et al.

Epj Nuclear Sciences & Technologies. 2023. DOI : 10.1051/epjn/2023010.

Design of an Instrumented Fuel Rod for Intra-pin Neutron Flux Measurements in the CROCUS Experimental Reactor

T. MagerJ.-B. ValentinV. LamirandT. LigonnetW. D. Shin  et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences. 2023. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202328804007.

High accuracy measurement of the prompt neutron decay constant in CROCUS using Gamma Noise and bootstrapped uncertainties

O. V. PakariV. LamirandT. MagerP. FrajtagA. Pautz

Annals Of Nuclear Energy. 2022. DOI : 10.1016/j.anucene.2022.109011.

Characterization of High Harmonic Frequencies in Reactor Noise Experiments Within the CORTEX Project

K. AmbrožičV. P. LamirandA. Pautz

IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. 2022. DOI : 10.1109/TNS.2022.3143238.

Millimetric fuel rod displacements: an experimental study of the impact on local thermal neutron flux in the CROCUS reactor

F. VitulloV. LamirandT. LigonnetO. PakariD. Godat  et al.

2022. International Conference on Physics of Reactors, Pittsburgh, United States, 2022-05-15 - 2022-05-20. p. 2632 - 2641. DOI : 10.13182/PHYSOR22-37846.

Miniature and Minimalistic Neutron Detectors for Online High-Resolution Experiments in the Zero-Power Reactor CROCUS

F. Vitullo / A. PautzV. P. Lamirand (Dir.)

Lausanne, EPFL, 2022. DOI : 10.5075/epfl-thesis-9492.

Modeling the response of a diamond detector in the zero power reactor CROCUS

C. KongB. EbiwonjumiD. LeeP. KavriginC. Weiss  et al.

European Physical Journal Plus. 2021. DOI : 10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-02230-0.

Delayed gamma fraction determination in the zero power reactor CROCUS

O. PakariT. MagerV. LamirandP. FrajtagA. Pautz

Epj Nuclear Sciences & Technologies. 2021. DOI : 10.1051/epjn/2021015.

Preliminary analysis of the PETALE program and comparison to simulations

T. Ligonnet

2021

Extension of miniature neutron scintillators features in CROCUS: novel acquisition scheme and extended flux range

C. Rochat

2021

Investigation of the Fission Matrix methodology using the Monte Carlo code Serpent 2 and application to the CROCUS reactor

F. Guillier

2021

PISTIL, a reactivity modulation device to probe the transfer function of the nuclear reactor CROCUS

Y. JiangB. GeslotV. LamirandP. LeconteD. Godat  et al.

2021. Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC, Jun 21-25, 2021. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202125304007.

High resolution measurements with miniature neutron scintillators in the SUR-100 zero power reactor

E. L. BrunettoF. VitulloV. LamirandK. AmbrozicD. Godat  et al.

2021. Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC, Jun 21-25, 2021. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202125304029.

First in-core gamma spectroscopy experiments in a zero power reactor

O. PakariV. LamirandT. MagerA. LaureauP. Frajtag  et al.

2021. Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC, Jun 21-25, 2021. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202125304022.

Design of a 150-miniature detectors 3D core-mapping system for the CROCUS reactor

F. VitulloV. LamirandK. AmbrozicL. BraunD. Godat  et al.

2021. Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC, Jun 21-25, 2021. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202125304023.

Local and high distance neutron and gamma measurements of fuel rods oscillation experiments

V. LamirandO. PakariF. VitulloK. AmbrozicD. Godat  et al.

2021. Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC, Jun 21-25, 2021. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202125304024.

Kilogram-Scale Crystallogenesis of Halide Perovskites for Gamma-Rays Dose Rate Measurements

P. AndricevicP. FrajtagV. P. LamirandA. PautzM. Kollar  et al.

Advanced Science. 2020. DOI : 10.1002/advs.202001882.

Review of kinetic modulation experiments in low power nuclear reactors

Y. JiangB. GeslotV. LamirandP. Leconte

Epj Nuclear Sciences & Technologies. 2020. DOI : 10.1051/epjn/2020017.

The Unscented Kalman Filter: Introduction and Application to Point Reactor Kinetics

F. Grimberg

2020

Uncertainty propagation based on correlated sampling technique for nuclear data applications

A. LaureauV. LamirandD. RochmanA. Pautz

Epj Nuclear Sciences & Technologies. 2020. DOI : 10.1051/epjn/2020003.

Uncertainty propagation for the design study of the PETALE experimental programme in the CROCUS reactor

A. LaureauV. LamirandD. RochmanA. Pautz

Epj Nuclear Sciences & Technologies. 2020. DOI : 10.1051/epjn/2020004.

A mm(3) Fiber-Coupled Scintillator for In-Core Thermal Neutron Detection in CROCUS

F. VitulloV. LamirandJ.-B. MossetP. FrajtagO. Pakari  et al.

Ieee Transactions On Nuclear Science. 2020. DOI : 10.1109/TNS.2020.2977530.

Measurement of the Gas Velocity in a Water-Air Mixture in CROCUS Using Neutron Noise Techniques

M. HursinO. PakariG. PerretP. FrajtagV. Lamirand  et al.

Nuclear Technology. 2020. DOI : 10.1080/00295450.2019.1701906.

Validation of the Serpent 2 model for the CARROUSEL facility

E. L. Brunetto

2020

Assessment of representativity of the PETALE experiments for validation of Swiss LWRs ex-core dosimetry calculations

A. VasilievM. PecchiaD. RochmanG. PerretH. Ferroukhi  et al.

2020. International Conference on Nuclear Data for Science and Technology (ND), Beijing, PEOPLES R CHINA, May 19-24, 2019. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202023922001.

Neutron noise experiments in the AKR-2 and CROCUS reactors for the European project CORTEX

V. LamirandA. RaisS. HuebnerC. LangeJ. Pohlus  et al.

2020. 6th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Portoroz, SLOVENIA, Jun 17-21, 2019. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202022504023.

Power calibration methodology at the CROCUS reactor

V. LamirandA. LaureauO. PakariP. FrajtagA. Pautz

2020. 6th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Portoroz, SLOVENIA, Jun 17-21, 2019. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202022504022.

Developing and testing a miniature fiber-coupled scintillator for in-core neutron counting in CROCUS

F. VitulloV. LamirandJ.-B. MossetP. FrajtagO. Pakari  et al.

2020. 6th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Portoroz, SLOVENIA, Jun 17-21, 2019. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/202022504018.

Noise analysis techniques of in-core modulation experiments of the European CORTEX project

K. AmbrožičV. P. LamirandS. HübnerM. HursinA. Rais  et al.

2020. 29th International Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe (NENE 2020), Portorož, Slovenia, September 7–10, 2020. p. 212.1 - 212.8.

Experimental and numerical study of stochastic branching noise in nuclear reactors

O. V. Pakari / A. PautzV. P. Lamirand (Dir.)

Lausanne, EPFL, 2020. DOI : 10.5075/epfl-thesis-8336.

An Experimental Programme optimized with Uncertainty Propagation: PETALE in the CROCUS Reactor

V. P. LamirandA. LaureauD. RochmanG. PerretA. Gruel  et al.

2019. WONDER 2018 : 5th International Workshop On Nuclear Data Evaluation for Reactor applications, Aix-en-Provence, France, October 8-12, 2018. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/201921103003.

Measurement of the gas velocity in a water-air mixture in crocus by neutron noise technique

M. HursinO. V. PakariG. PerretP. FrajtagV. P. Lamirand  et al.

2019. International conference on mathematics and computational methods applied to nuclear science and engineering (M&C 2019), Portland, OR, USA, August 25-29, 2019.

Towards the validation of neutron noise simulators: qualification of data acquisition systems

A. RaisV. P. LamirandO. V. PakariA. LaureauJ. Pohlus  et al.

2019. International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2019), Portland, OR, USA, August 25-29, 2019.

Determination of the activity inventory and associated uncertainty quantification for the CROCUS zero power research reactor

W. KimM. HursinA. PautzL. VincentF. Pavel  et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy. 2019. DOI : 10.1016/j.anucene.2019.107034.

Kinetic Parameter Measurements in the CROCUS Reactor Using Current Mode Instrumentation

O. PakariV. LamirandG. PerretP. FrajtagA. Pautz

Ieee Transactions On Nuclear Science. 2018. DOI : 10.1109/TNS.2018.2831180.

Intercomparison of neutron noise measurement systems in the CROCUS reactor

V. P. LamirandG. de IzarraA. KrásaG. PerretO. V. Pakari  et al.

2018. PHYSOR 2018: Reactor Physics paving the way towards more efficient systems, Cancún, Mexico, April 22-26, 2018.

Investigation of spatial effects on neutron noise measurements in the zero power reactor CROCUS

O. V. PakariV. P. LamirandG. PerretD. GodatM. Hursin  et al.

2018. PHYSOR 2018: Reactor Physics paving the way towards more efficient systems, Cancún, Mexico, April 22-26, 2018.

Design of Separated Element Reflector Experiments in CROCUS: PETALE

V. LamirandG. PerretS. RagmanD. SiefmanP. Frajtag  et al.

2018. 16th International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry, Santa Fe, NM, May 07-12, 2017. p. 1 - 14. DOI : 10.1520/STP760820170090.

Total Monte Carlo acceleration for the PETALE experimental programme in the CROCUS reactor

A. LaureauV. P. LamirandD. RochmanA. Pautz

2018. WONDER 2018 : 5th International Workshop On Nuclear Data Evaluation for Reactor applications, Aix-en-Provence, France, October 8-12, 2018. DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/201921103002.

Design of Separated Element Reflector Experiments in CROCUS: PETALE

V. P. LamirandG. PerretS. RadmanD. J. SiefmanM. Hursin  et al.

2017. ISRD16 International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, May 7-12, 2017.

Future experimental programmes in the CROCUS reactor

V. P. LamirandM. HursinG. PerretP. FrajtagO. Pakari  et al.

2016. RRFM/IGORR 2016, Berlin, Germany, March 13-17, 2016. p. 284 - 292. DOI : 10.13140/RG.2.1.2309.6728.

Correction factors to apply to fission rates measured by miniature fission chambers in various neutron spectra

B. GeslotV. P. LamirandJ. Di SalvoA. GruelC. Destouches  et al.

2014. IGORR Conference 2014, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, November 17-21, 2014. DOI : 10.13140/RG.2.1.3106.3923.

Teaching & PhD

PhD Students

Alexis Paul Boris Claude Dupont-Bembinoff

Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector

Oskari Ville Pakari, Fanny Vitullo, Thomas Jean-François Ligonnet

Courses

Radiation and reactor experiments

PHYS-451

The reactor experiments course aims to introduce the students to radiation detection techniques and nuclear reactor experiments. The core of the course is the unique opportunity to conduct reactor experiments with the EPFL reactor CROCUS.

Radiation detection

PHYS-452

The course presents the detection of ionizing radiation in the keV and MeV energy ranges. Physical processes of radiation/matter interaction are introduced. All steps of detection are covered, as well as detectors, instrumentations and measurements methods commonly used in the nuclear field.