Division of Optics

A research team from the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, led by Hana Lísalová from the Laboratory of Functional Biointerfaces (LFB) of the Division of Optics, has developed a new polymeric nanocoating. It effectively prevents the accumulation of proteins and bacteria on the surface of biomaterials while promoting desirable immune cell responses and supporting the growth of bone-forming cells. 

As the end of the year approaches, we at FZU have once again continued our tradition and decided to make the Christmas holidays more enjoyable for those who find themselves in difficult life situations. 

The team from the Division of Optics of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences has succeeded with a project proposal titled Enhancing the Efficiency of Latent Fingerprint Visualization Methods. The project aims to improve the detection of invisible (latent) fingerprint traces, particularly on challenging surfaces, thereby contributing to greater success in forensic investigations.

On 11 November, FZU hosted a conference on the creation of start-ups and spin-offs rooted in scientific research.

Jindřich Musil was born on January 19, 1934, in Březina. After graduating from the University of Defense in Brno in 1957, he started to pursue his career in science; first as a researcher at Tesla, then, from 1961, at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences at the Institute of Plasma Physics and the Institute of Physics. 

The team led by Hana Lísalová from the Optics Section of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with scientists from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University, used surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and a molecular probe to map hidden defects in polymer nanobrushes and demonstrated how these defects can be prevented in the future.

Tereza Roesel ze Sekce optiky získala druhé místo a Cenu diváků v národním kole prestižní soutěže Falling Walls Lab v Praze se svým projektem Breaking the Wall of Single-Molecule Detection („Prolomení bariéry detekce jednotlivých molekul“).

A recent study published in Advanced Science unveils a groundbreaking approach to designing responsive materials by manipulating atomic vibrations. 

In September, the installation of mirrors on three large telescopes (Large-Sized Telescope – LST) was completed on the Canary Island of La Palma. These telescopes will become part of the future Cherenkov Telescope Array observatory. 

A team led by Zdeněk Farka from Masaryk University in Brno, in collaboration with Hana Lísalová's team from the Division of Optics of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, is looking for new ways to faster and more effective evaluation of the so-called phage therapies, which could offer an alternative to traditional antibiotics. 

Two Cherenkov telescopes help us understand extreme cosmic phenomena through very high-energy gamma rays; they are currently the most sensitive devices of their kind in the world. The prototypes, which were developed by an international team involving Czech scientists, are now in Ondřejov. This is an exceptional opportunity for Czech astrophysicists, as the telescopes may be moved abroad in the future.