FAST/Advanced Nuclear Systems Group: Generation-IV nuclear reactors with a fast neutron spectrum

We launched the project in 2002 and our current goals are:

to study neutronics and nucleonics, thermal hydraulics and fuel behaviour of advanced fast-spectrum nuclear reactors using modern computational tools: TRACE/PARCS/FRED, Eranos/EQL3D, Serpent 2, OpenFOAM;
to evaluate safety of fast reactors developed in Europe, in particular, European Sodium Fast Reactor (ESFR);
to analyse innovative design solutions for Generation-IV Molten Salt Reactor;
to represent Switzerland internationally at GIF, IAEA, OECD, EURATOM;
to educate young researchers and students, in particular, via the ETHZ/EPFL Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering and EPFL PhD programs.

June 1, 2026

Đorđe Petrovic, postdoctoral fellow at ANS group of LSM was selected as a recipient of the FR26 Young Generation Paper Recognition. FR26 is an International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles organized by IAEA. The sub-title of the 2026 conference was: From Innovation to Implementation. Đorđe was one of the five awarded researchers and students and his paper was describing the FAST code system, a tool analyzing dynamics behavior of Gen-IV reactors, tailored especially for Sodium Fast Reactors and Molten salt Reactors. Congratulations, Đorđe!

August 28, 2025

In August 2025 Julia Swiatkowska was selected by swissnuclear for the PhD grant. Ms. Swiatkowska should evaluate two or more selected MSR designs and apply all tools developed at PSI for MSR simulations in last decade. The study should confirm MSR exceptional combination of safety and fuel cycle sustainability.

April 1, 2024

In March 2024 the EU project ENDURANCE was financed by Euratom. The project starting date is set to 1. October 2024. PSI is leading work package 5 dedicated to MSR sustainability and involved also in work package 4 dedicated to MSR transient simulation. The PSI budget will allow one PhD position and partially other students and postdocs.

November 25, 2023

In November 2023 the final meeting of EU project SAMOSFER took place in Avignon France. PSI was leading work package 3 dedicated to the source term mobility of Molten Salt Reactor (MSR). Several labs were involved to estimate the distribution of nuclides during nominal operation. The radiotoxicity and decay heat release were evaluated at different MSFR system locations and simplified severe accident was simulated. The project was successful in achieving its goals.

September 30, 2023

In September 2023 the project entitled "Definition of fuel cycle performance criteria and assessment of Swiss nuclear waste transmutation options" was financed by SNSF. The aim of the project is to develop methodology and criteria how to evaluate nuclear reactor performance in natural resources utilization and radioactive waste minimization (transmutation). It should provide sounded instrument for reactor intercomparison and focus on the Swiss spent fuel inventory.

November 1, 2021

New issue 02/2021 of the magazine Involved of the association for Switzerland's mechanical and electrical engineering industries SWISSMEM was released. The magazine Involved appears twice a year and address the exciting world of Swiss industry. The latest issue includes part dedicated to “harness of the elementary particles power”. In three distinguished parts, three experts address possibility to use particles for medical purpose, for exact clocks, and for energy production are addressed.

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