Institute of Experimental Physics

Director: prof. dr hab. Tomasz Matulewicz

Deputy Directors: prof. dr hab. Paweł Kowalczyk, prof. UW dr hab. Adam Babiński

ADDRESS:

ul. Hoza 69, 00-681 Warszawa

tel. +48 22 5532000 (centrala), 22 5532266, 226213810

fax. +48 22 6226154

e-mail: ifd@fuw.edu.pl

Webpage: http://en.ifd.fuw.edu.pl/

The Institute is composed of nine Sections: Biophysics, Particles and Fundamental Interactions, Physics Teaching Methodology, Solid State Physics, Nuclear Physics, Optics, Nuclear Spectroscopy, Biomedical Physics, and Condensed Matter Physics. The Sections carry out research in a variety of fields of modern physics: from solid state physics and optics, through biophysics and medical physics, all the way to nuclear physics and the physics of elementary particles and the fundamental interactions. The Section of Physics Teaching Methodology specializes in problems related to the process of teaching physics in schools, and the formation of teachers. This Section also carry out research in econophysics in the frame of Physics Methods Applied in Economy (Econophysics) speciality.

Physicists at the Section of Particles and Fundamental Interactions take part in experiments carried out in international high-energy laboratories, including the CERN laboratory in Geneva, where the first experiments involving the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are presently taking place. Collaboration with centers of neutrino research in Japan and the United States is also under intense development. A considerable part of data processing is carried out in Warsaw. The Section also makes a significant contribution to the construction of complex detector systems, parts of which were manufactured in Warsaw.

Physicists at the Section of Nuclear Physics and the Section of Nuclear Spectroscopy carry out research employing the wide energy band beams available in foreign research centers (Darmstadt, Catania, Legnaro, Dubna, Jyvaskyla, Oak Ridge), as well as at the University's own cyclotron (SLCJ).

The Section of Solid State Physics and the Section of the Structure of Condensed Matter, which work on diverse problems in the area of solid state physics, also maintain a well-developed collaboration with leading foreign research centers. Through years of effort put in by their research teams, well-equipped research labs have been built - in particular, a wide array of devices to measure the properties of semiconductors in an external magnetic field, allowing advanced research to be carried out locally as well. Likewise is the case in the Section of Optics, which boasts high-grade apparatus for laser spectroscopy, a femtosecond laser, and a mobile lidar for measuring atmospheric pollution. The same may be said of the Biophysics Section, where physico-chemical methods for analysing biologically active molecules are developed.

Research at the Biomedical Physics Section concentrates on computer methods of data interpretation and modelling of biological processes, as applied to the medical sciences.

Research groups at the Institute of Experimental Physics and th Institute of Theoretical Physics maintain close collaboration within their scientific work.

The Institute's Library, and the Demonstration Laboratory, play an important role within the Institute. The Laboratory, in addition to fulfilling its statutory functions, takes an active part in outreach activities, such as Saturday public lectures, workshops for teachers, guest lectures at schools.

In the past, the Institute was headed by the following Directors: Stefan Pieńkowski (1952 - 1953), Jerzy Pniewski (1953 - 1958), Tadeusz Skaliński (1958 - 1962), Jerzy Pniewski (1962 - 1975), Andrzej K. Wróblewski (1975 - 1981), Marian Grynberg (1981 - 1984), Jacek Baranowski (1984 - 1990), Tomasz Hofmokl (1990 - 1994), Jan Żylicz (1994 - 2002), Andrzej Twardowski (2002 - 2008), Tomasz Matulewicz (2008 - ).