Research
Research at the Department of Physics is divided into three main areas:
Biophysics, Biochemistry and Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis
The research deals with the effect of important environmental factors (intensity and spectral composition of radiation, CO2 concentration, other climate change factors) on the assimilation apparatus of higher plants, starting from the regulation mechanisms of the use of radiation to the response of photosynthetic activity on the level of leaf, plant and growth: I, Variability of the composition and structural and functional properties of thylakoid membranes in relation to the resistance towards oxidative stress; II, Influence of the radiation intensity and spectral composition on the assimilation apparatus of plants and the physiological role of phenolic compounds. Experimental background of the research is based on the use and development of a) biophysical methods of optical spectrometry for the study of the structure and functional state of the assimilation apparatus and b) biochemical methods for the analysis of assimilation apparatus components (photosynthetic pigments, secondary metabolites, pigmet-protein complexes of thylakoid membranes and others).
Contact person: doc. RNDr. Vladimír Špunda, CSc.
Team members: Špunda, Štroch, Navrátil, Kurasová, Vrábl, Karlický V., Nezval, Materová, Semer, Garab
Physics of Nanostructures and Chemical Physics
The Nanostructure Physics Group of the Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava is interested in electronic structure theory, computational modeling of atomic-scale molecular complexes and nanomaterials. Besides the application of traditional methods (quantum chemistry, density functional theory), an important research direction is development and applications of alternative methods like, e.g., stochastic electronic structure methods (quantum Monte Carlo) and their use for accurate description of electronic structure or quantum motion of nuclei. The applications include molecules, clusters, solids, surfaces and nanomaterials, prediction of structural, electronic, optical and adsorption properties and interaction strength. To date, many demanding systems were studied successfully, including transition metals, their oxides, non-covalent interactions and physisorption, nuclear delocalisation effects of strongly quantum systems and excitonic effects in nanostructures.
Contact person: Mgr. František Karlický, Ph.D.
Group web pages: nano.osu.cz
Teaching of physics and bases of general physics
Research intention of the group:
Comparison of traditional physical experiments and computer supported experiments within the group of ordinary and gifted pupils using traditional educationalresearch methods mainly action research but also advanced research methods – eye-tracking.
Research areas:
- The way of assigning theoretical and experimantal tasks for gifted and ordinary pupils
- Proposal of tasks for creative thinking development and its verification in the group of gifted and ordinary pupils
Updated: 27. 11. 2019
