Physics
Department of Experimental Physics
Department of Experimental Physics provides study programmes in the field of Applied Physics and Didactics of Physics. It offers Bachelor and Master degree programmes of Applied Physics, Nanotechnology and Teaching Physics. It further guarantees Doctoral programmes Applied Physics and Didactics of Physics. The department also provides tuition in basic courses including physics laboratory practices not only for physical branches, but also chemical and biological. The didactics department is also engaged in writing textbooks and methodological materials for elementary and secondary schools, outreach programmes for students and the general public.
In their scientific work the experts of the department focus primarily on nuclear spectroscopic methods including Mössbauer spectroscopy, synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, electron beam lithography, image processing, metrology, numerical simulations of physical phenomena and design of measurement systems. The research staff closely collaborates with major institutions in the Czech Republic (such as the Institute of Physics of Materials ASCR Brno, Mathematics and Physics Faculty of Charles University in Prague) and abroad (among others JINR Dubna, DESY Hamburg, ELTE Budapest).
Department of Optics
At the Department of Optics one can study a wide spectrum of disciplines and specializations, covering many areas of modern optics, such as the physics of lasers, fundamental quantum properties of light, optical quantum information processing, advanced optoelectronic communication systems, application of special optical beams, digital holography, optical tomographic methods, spectroscopy problems or correction of visual impairments. Department of Optics guarantees the following fields of study - Optics and Optoelectronics, General Physics and Mathematical Physics, Digital and Instrumental Optics and Optometry.
Optics has a long tradition in Olomouc and research staff and students of the department are considered the top experts in the field. Thanks to a number of national and European research projects the department has acquired cutting-edge laboratory equipment. Department of Optics works closely with many leading universities and research institutes in Europe and overseas. Major partners of the department in the Czech Republic include the Institute of Scientific Instruments ASCR, Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry ASCR, and a number of major optical companies in the region.
Joint Laboratory of Optics
Joint Laboratory of Optics (SLO) is a common workplace of Palacký University and Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences. It was founded in 1985. The main focus of the laboratory's scientific research is the field of applied optics, experimental particle physics, quantum and nonlinear optics, wave optics and holography. Scientists are involved in major international collaborations, e.g. International Nuclear Research Centre – CERN, and they participate in building and operating the world's largest observatories in the field of astroparticle physics. SLO is closely linked with the Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials. Excellent experimental and workshop capacities enable the department staff to work on contractual research with local companies.
Researchers provide a part of education in the fields of Applied Physics, Instrumental Physics and Computational Physics. In addition, laboratory work includes the design and manufacture of optical and electro-optical devices, publishing the Fine Mechanics and Optics magazine, and running a library of the Czech branch of an international company SPIE/CS.
Department of Biophysics
The Department of Biophysics guarantees studying Biophysics at all levels of higher education (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral) in two disciplines – Biophysics and Molecular Biophysics. Students of Biophysics have a potential to work in medical biophysics or biophysics of plants. Research focus of the department is to study stress in plants, production of reactive oxygen species in living systems, structural and functional properties of proteins and nucleic acids, and the human voice and vocal cord function. A number of the department's research staff is involved in the Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research.
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology. Students learn to understand the basics of modern physical techniques and apply them in the study of biological systems. Graduates find practical application in a wide variety of fields such as health, forensics, pharmaceuticals, ecology, agriculture and food industry. They can also engage in basic and applied research in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Medicine in the Czech Republic as well as abroad.