Research

Elena Buixaderas‘ Fated Passion for Physics

Abstract

The physicist, poet and translator Elena Buixaderas made it with her article to the cover of the special issue of Women in Ferroelectrics Research and Development, prepared for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. As she admits herself, she is stubborn and when she wants something, she pursues it no matter what. In science as in poetry.

A new World record for BIVOJ laser

Abstract

The BIVOJ laser has broken its own performance record that it set in 2016. In a recent test, the system was operated for an hour at a pulse energy in excess of 145 J (with a maximum of 146.5 J) in 10 ns pulses at a repetition rate of 10 Hz at a wavelength of 1030 nm.

The revelation of the secret of imperfect crystals as a challenge for Lukáš Palatinus

Abstract

Crystals are as a construction set. They are made up from tiny building blocks which often are molecules. Lukáš Palatinus is able to determine what molecules look like and how they are put together in a crystal. He can thus create new models of crystal structures. An imperfect crystal, which is characterised by errors and inaccuracies in the cube structure, is another scientific challenge for Lukáš Palatinus.

From superlattices to supercrystals

Abstract

FZU researchers, in a world-wide collaboration led by Dr. Pavlo Zubko from University College London, have found that in superlattices, composed of layers of a ferroelectric material separated by thin metallic spacers, electric dipoles form an unusual pattern of nanoscale domains that order in three dimensions to create a ‘domain supercrystal’, exhibiting outstanding dielectric response.

Robot to Detect COVID-19 from Saliva Samples

Abstract

A device to detect SARS-CoV-2 in saliva samples is one step closer to a real-world application.  A unique technology, which was developed by researchers from the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, has shown sensitivity comparable to that of PCR testing.

Photocontrollable photonic crystals

Abstract

Researchers from Institute of Physics in collaboration with Lomonosov Moscow State University elaborated novel photocontrollable photonic crystals based on porous silicon filled with photochromic liquid crystalline mixture. In their recent joint paper, whose figure highlighted the back cover of the November issue of Advanced Optical Materials, they demonstrated that these photonic crystals have great potential for creation of photoswitchable materials for photonics applications.