Department of Physics

• Laboratory of Computer Simulations

  Modelling of physical processes on computers links theoretical knowledge with experimental observations.

  Students are welcome - projects offer numerous partial goals suitable for students' theses

  Researchers and students focus on two directions of computer simulations:

  1) Molecular simulations

  We use equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) to study interactions of molecules. Students study interactions of molecules with surfaces and adsorption of molecules, structure, dynamics and interactions of nucleic acids oligonucleotides and their building blocks.
  When needed, these simulations are combined with ab initio quantum calculations, which yield interaction parameters used subsequently in molecular simulations of systems of sizes typically from thousands to hundred of thousands of atoms.
  The results of simulations are being compared with theory (theory of electric double-layer), experiments (X-ray diffraction, surface titration, adsorption experiments, second harmonics generation) and quantum calculations (ab initio calculations, quantum dynamics).

  Our papers investigating electrokinetic phenomena, determination of  zeta potential and surface potential

  “Molecular simulations of processes at solid-liquid interfaces”,  project LTAUSA17163, INTER-EXCELLENCE (INTER-ACTION), collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA), 2017-2021
  Research team:
  doc. RNDr. Milan Předota, Ph.D.
  doc. Mgr. Martin Kabeláč, Ph.D.
  Ing. Ondřej Kroutil, Ph.D.
  MSc. Babak Minofar, Ph.D.
  Mgr. Zdeněk Chval, Ph.D.
  MSc. Denys Biriukov - Ph.D. researcher, former doctoral student (biophysics)
  Mgr. Lydie Plačková - Ph.D. student (biophysics), researcher
  Bc. Patrik Musil - master student
  Foreign partner:
  Andrew G. Stack, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and members of his team: Hsiu-Wen Wang, Nikhil Rampal

  Recent project:
  “Molecular description of phenomena in electrical double layer - prediction and interpretation of experimental data by computer simulations”, standard project, Czech Science Foundation, 17-10734S, 2017-2019
  Research team:
  doc. RNDr. Milan Předota, Ph.D.
  Ing. Ondřej Kroutil, Ph.D.
  MSc. Denys Biriukov - Ph.D. student (biophysics), researcher
  Mgr. Pavel Fibich, Ph.D. - IT support.

  2) Modeling of the solar atmosphere

  Our numerical simulations are based on the solutions of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. In this case we simulate the plasma processes from macroscopic point of view, i.e. plasma is described as the conductive fluid. Our main scientific interest is focused on the problems related to the coronal heating, especially the plasma waves and oscillations which could significantly contribute to the heating of higher parts of solar atmosphere.

  For computationally extensive physical and biophysical simulations we use two local computer clusters and national computational Metacentrum

  Cluster Hermes: 

  11  machines in a rack, each 2x Quad Core Xeon E5345 @ 2.33 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 5 x 500 GB HDD, Debian GNU/Linux
  This cluster is a member of Metacentrum, local users have privileged access..

  Cluster of Department of Physics and Biophysics:

  7 PC , each Quad Core 2 Quad @ 3.0 GHz, 2 GB RAM,  500 GB HDD, SuSE 11 Linux + 2TB shared disk
  1 PC Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2310 CPU @ 2.90GHz, 500 GB HDD, SuSE 11 Linux,  GPU GIGABYTE GTX 560 Ti Ultra Durable 1GB

  Both clusters offer parallel environment for compilation and execution of multi-processor (multi-thread) tasks and are used in teaching of classes UFY/PPI Parallel programing, UFY/PFM Computational physics - Computer modeling, UFY/SIM1  Computer simulations in many body physics and  UFY/SIM2 Advanced simulations in many body physics.

• Laboratory of Acoustics and Electronics

  The main aim of the Laboratory of Acoustic and Electronics is the sound signal processing. We cooperate with colleagues of IT Institute (UAI) and Faculty of Education (PF).

  

  We also focus on sound and building design. The sound analyzers  Bruel &Kjaer 2250 are used as well as other supplementary tools.

• Laboratory of Optical Spectroscopy

• Labroatory of Plasma Physics and Nanostructures

• Laboratory of nanomaterials physics

Language Department

• Summer semester 2023/2024

  • A New Animal Species Emerging in North America
  • Alan Turing and the Apple
  • Mummies around the World – Dried, Smoked, or Thrown in a Bog
  • In Praise of Human Guinea Pigs
  • UK Rains Broke River Flow Record and Climate Change is to Blame
  • Hell’s Grannies: Driving in Old Age
  • In Defense of Invaders
  • Meet my Datas

• Winter semester 2023/2024

  • Alien Contact More Likely by "Mail" Than Radio, Study Says
  • Genes and the placebo effect
  • Can the "wonder material" live up to all the hype?
  • Grass Grows 13-Foot Roots of "Steel"
  • An American company thinks it can have a commercial reactor ready and working within a decade
  • Project Hieroglyph: Fighting society's dystopian future
  • Swarthy, blue-eyed caveman with strong immune system revealed using ancient DNA
  • Wireless Power May Cut the Cord for Plug-In Devices, Including Cars

• Summer semester 2022/2023

  • "Blue Moon" to Shine on New Year's Eve
  • Using a cell phone may help fight Alzheimer's disease
  • Easter Island mystery: Why did the native culture die out?
  • High-tech energy oasis to be built in the desert
  • Making Music Boosts Brain's Language Skills
  • Nanoparticles programmed to attack cancer
  • Running Barefoot
  • Could we, and should we, settle on Mars?

• Winter semester 2022/2023

  • Do You Know Where Your Aquarium Fish Come From?
  • "Death travelers" are bringing back stories of life beyond death: an interview with author Judy Bachrach
  • Engineered proteins stick like glue -- even in water
  • Neural Networks
  • The problem with overusing antibiotics
  • Tomorrow's cities - the lamp-posts watching every move
  • Fact or Fiction? Video Games are the Future of Education
  • "Zombie" Servers and Inefficiency Drive Energy Waste at Data Centers

• Summer semester 2021/2022

  • Astonishing Drone Uses

  • Euthanization at Copenhagen Zoo Sparks Global Outrage

  • Food packaging chemicals may be harmful to human health over long term

  • Surprising Innovations for The Future of Computing

  • Military Dolphins and Sea Lions: What Do They Do and Who Uses Them?

  • Will We Ever Cryopreserve Our Organs?

  • Short People Got lots of Reasons to Legitimately Feel Paranoid

  • Time for Robots to Get Real

• Winter semester 2021/2022

  • Amazing Translation Device is a Real Life Babel Fish
  • Fascination With Chernobyl Inspires Secret Visits
  • Eureka Prize winners show off Australian-grown science ingenuity — from super lasers to killer wings
  • HTTP Cookies
  • Did This Mysterious Ape-Human Once Live Alongside Our Ancestors?
  • It's Thanks to Evolution That No Two Faces Are Alike, Study Finds
  • Sun Will End Earthly Life in 2.8 Billion Years
  • Tardigrades: Water bears in space

• Summer semester 2020/2021

  • Chemical bike lock emits toxic gas
  • Modern societies where women literally rule
  • Microalgal bioreactors and the house of the future
  • Air pollution to speed birds up
  • Olympic Gold Begins with Good Genes
  • Can You Really Be Cryogenically Frozen? Why The Sci-Fi Fantasy May Be More Science Than Fiction
  • Researchers to prevent livestock belching methane
  • Studying biochemistry at university - “I’ve been given a second chance to live my life”

• Winter semester 2020/2021

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers Arrive in Sub-Zero Arctic Seed Vault
  • Why the Deaf Have Enhanced Vision 
  • Modern gladiators - New body armour promises to transform fighting sports  
  • Interscatter enables first implanted devices, contact lenses, credit cards to 'talk' WiFi
  • Baby decisions - adding to the world's woes?
  • Why a familiar bed provides a good night’s sleep
  • Milkweed is toxic and hard to get rid of. The answer? Train rabbits to like it
  • Edible food packaging made from milk proteins

Language Department

CEFR

Language Department

Syllabus

• Syllabus of Bachelor's English courses

  The courses are taught by Czech teachers.

  Course	Entrance Level	Final Level
  BA1 Complete Beginners        WS/SS	A0	A2
  BA1                         WS/SS	A1	A2
  BA2                         WS/SS	A2	B1
  BA3                         WS/SS	B1	B2

  Course contents:
  Essentials: Functions, Grammar/structures, Vocabulary, pronunciation

  Extras: Reading skills, listening skills, speaking skills, writing skills

  • General International English
  • Communicative approach

  Materials:

  • New Headway Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate
  • New English File Elementary, Pre Intermediate, Intermediate
  • Murphy, R. Essential Grammar in Use
  • Murphy, R. English Grammar in Use
  • English Vocabulary in Use Elementary, Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate
  • Azar, Betty Schrampfer: Fundamentals of English Grammar
  • Azar, Betty Schrampfer: Understanding and Using English Grammar
  • Vince, Michael: Elementary Language Practice
  • Vince Michael: Intermediate Language Practice
  • Vince, Michael: First certificate Language Practice

  Detailed syllabus for the courses with a Czech teacher

  Course	Semester	Functions/discourse markers	Grammar/structures	Topics/Vocabulary
  BA1 A1-A2	WS	Describing habits and routines Describing places Describing things Describing past experiences Linkers sequential – past time	Questions, question words Present Simple Adverbial phrases of time/place and frequency including word order Imperatives Present Continuous 'Have/have got Possessive ‘s, s’' Possessive pronouns Past Simple Used to “Wh” questions in the past Past Continuous Countable and uncountable nouns Determiners Much/many/some/any/all/no/none something/somebody/anything/anybody/everything/everybody/everywhere/somewhere/anywhere A few/ a little/a lot of Articles with countable and uncountable nouns Demonstrative this/that/these/those	Phrasal verbs (common) Adverbs of frequency Simple adverbs of place/manner/time Prepositions of time on/in/at Prepositions of place Personal details Family Numbers, time Food and drink Things in the town, shops, shopping Hobbies and pastimes Holidays Inside the house Objects and rooms In the classroom
  	SS	Describing people Obligation and necessity Requests Suggestions Advice Invitations Offers Possibility Arrangements/-ing to meet people	Verb + gerunds/infinitives, To infinitive to express purpose Like/would like/what’s…like Going to Will Present continuous the for future Future time (will x going to) Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, Use of than, (not)as…as Present Perfect Simple For/Since Modal verbs – can/could/must/have to/ should/may/might Zero and First Conditional, Time clauses -ed/-ing adjectives	Prepositional phrases (place/time/movement) Phrasal verbs (common) Adjectives personality, description, feelings Basic intensifiers (very/really/quite/so/a bit) Work and jobs Education Leisure activities Animals Clothes Weather Going out Other countries Travel and services Transport
  Course	Semester	Functions/discourse markers	Grammar/structures	Topics/Vocabulary
  BA1 complete beginners   A0-A2   Same as BA1 plus		Directions Describing habits and routines Giving personal information Greetings Telling the time Directions Understanding and using numbers Understanding and using prices Connecting words (and, but, because)	Adjectives common and demonstrative Adverbs of frequency Articles a/an/the Comparatives and superlatives Determiners basic Going to How much/how many Have/have got Very common uncountable nouns I’d like Imperatives Intensifiers very basic Modals can/can’t, could/couldn’t Past Simple of TO BE Past Simple Possessive adjectives Possessive ‘s Prepositions common Prepositions of place Prepositions of time including in/on/at Present Continuous Present Simple Pronouns simple, personal Questions There is/there are To be, incl questions, negatives Verb +ing, like/hate/love	Food and drink Nationalities and countries Personal information Things in the town, shops, shopping Verbs – basic Family life Hobbies and pastimes Holidays Leisure activities Shopping Work and jobs Clothes Colours Dimensions Ways of travelling
  Course	Semester	Functions/discourse markers	Grammar/structures	Topics/Vocabulary
  BA2 A2-B1	WS	Describing feelings and emotions, attitudes Describing places Giving advice Expressing opinions Agreeing and disagreeing Initiating and closing conversation Describing people	Simple passives Second conditional (revision of first conditional) Present Perfect continuous Present Perfect simple x continuous Present Perfect x Past Simple Past Perfect Reported statements -ed/-ing adjectives Future (will/going to / present simple, continuous,/may/might/future in time clauses) Adjectives  - collocation of adjective Articles with countable and uncountable nouns Determiners – broad range (e.g. all the, most, both)	Phrasal verbs extended Collocations (tell a story, keep a promise..) Broader range of intensifiers such as too, enough Things in the town, shops and shopping Travel and holidays Vehicles and transport Hotels and restaurants Sport and leisure activities Numbers, size, dimension, shapes, patterns Health and the body Feelings, features of character Adjectives to describe people
  	SS	Describing past experiences and events, storytelling Requests and offers Checking understanding Managing interaction (interrupting, changing the topic, resuming or continuing) Talking about films and books Markers to structure informal spoken discourse Linkers – sequential past time	Questions, subject/object questions Question tags, short answers Past time (Past Simple x Past Continuous, Past Perfect), Active/Passive Used to Would to express habit in the past Modal verbs must/can’t deduction in present Modal verbs may/might/can/could/have to/ allowed to/must/mustn’t should/ought to/need to Comparatives and superlatives Adverbs x adjectives Adverbial phrases of degree/extent/ probability Adverbial phrases of time/place frequency incl. word order Comparative and superlative form of adverbs Connecting words expressing cause and effect, contrast etc.	Phrasal verbs extended Collocations Colloquial language Art, music and literature Sport and leisure Clothes and appearance Food, restaurants and cooking Education Media -  TV and Internet Technology – mobiles and computers News, lifestyles and current affairs
  Course	Semester	Functions/discourse markers	Grammar/structures	Topics/Vocabulary
  BA3   B1-B2	WS	Describing hopes and plans Critiquing and reviewing Developing an argument Encouraging and inviting another speaker to continue, come in Managing interaction Taking initiative in interaction Expressing opinion, justification Agreeing and disagreeing Expressing reaction, indifference Checking understanding Linkers although, in spite of, despite Connecting words expressing cause and effect, contrast etc.	Future forms  (will/going to / present simple, continuous,/may/might/future in time clauses) Future continuous Future perfect introduction Gerunds and infinitives extended Conditionals First, Second, Third, Mixed Wish Relative clauses Articles	Phrasal verbs extended Collocations Colloquial language Contrasting opinions The weather Books and literature Arts Film Science and Technology Entertainment and the arts Health and the body The natural world
  	SS	Speculating Describing experiences Describing feelings and emotions Interacting informally, reacting, expressing interest, sympathy, surprise etc Expressing abstract ideas Synthetizing, evaluating, glossing info Giving precise information Expressing certainty, probability, doubt Generalising and qualifying Linkers sequential – past time -subsequently Discourse markers to structure formal speech	Modal verbs of deduction and speculation present/past Can’t have/ needn’t have Revision of all tenses active/passive Narrative tenses Would to express habits in the past Passives – all passive forms Reported speech Adjectives and adverbs Attitudinal adverbs Collocation of intensifiers	Phrasal verbs extended Collocations Colloquial language Summarising exponents Crime and the law Money Media People and behavior Feelings and opinions Education and learning News, lifestyles and current affairs Word formation

• Syllabus of Bachelor's English NS courses

  Contents:
  Reading skills, listening skills, speaking skills, writing skills, vocabulary, pronunciation

  • General International English, EAP
  • Communicative approach

  Course	Entrance Level	Aim Level
  BA1 NS Complete Beginers        WS/SS	A0	A2
  BA1 NS                         WS/SS	A1	A2
  BA2 NS                         WS/SS	A2	B1
  BA3 NS                         WS/SS	B1	B2

  Skills:

  READING:

  articles, 8 articles per semester

  WRITING:

  3 pieces of writing per semester

  BA1 NS WS Fill in a form An informal letter/email A story behind a photo A postcard A description (person/place) Writing instructions A holiday report	BA1 NS SS The above and/or A simple formal email Describing a building Giving opinion   A story – describing an experience/impression A simple magazine article
  BA2 NS WS    (250 words) informal letter formal letter descriptions, autobiography	BA2 NS SS   (250 words) composition (pros & cons) story, narrating an event review, report
  BA3 NS WS paraphrasing/summarizing a written text   150-200 words letters (formal & informal)  composition (pros & cons)  500 words	BA3 NS SS paraphrasing/summarizing oral text  150-200 words paraphrasing/summarizing written text 150-200 words composition (pros & cons) 500 words

  SPEAKING:

  BA1 NS WS Dialogues/interviews in pairs/groups on personal topics	BA1 NS SS Dialogues/interviews in pairs/groups on personal topics
  BA2 NS WS dialogues/interviews in pairs on personal topics mini-presentations	BA2 NS SS dialogues/interviews in pairs on general topics mini-presentations
  BA3 NS WS presentations	BA3 NS SS role-plays, negotiations, problem-solving, simulations

  LISTENING

  
  All courses and semesters:

  • gist
  • purpose
  • specific information
  • multiple choice
  • dialogues
  • lectures
  • note-taking

  Materials:

  Materials are chosen by the teacher, see also „Self-study weblinks“ on our website.
  New Headway academic skills levels 1 – 3

  Topics to choose from

  BA1 NS WS Personal details Clothes Numbers, time Food and drink Shops, shopping Hobbies and pastimes Holidays Weather Travel and services, Transport	BA1 NS SS Work and jobs Education, In the classroom Leisure activities Animals Going out Other countries Things in the town Inside the house Objects and rooms
  BA2 NS WS Things in the town, shops and shopping Travel and holidays Vehicles and transport Hotels and restaurants Sport and leisure activities Numbers, size, dimension, shapes, patterns Health and the body Feelings, features of character Adjectives to describe people	BA2 NS SS Art, music and literature Sport and leisure Clothes and appearance Food, restaurants and cooking Education Media - TV and Internet Technology – mobiles and computers News, lifestyles and current affairs
  BA3 NS WS The weather Books and literature Arts Film Science and Technology Entertainment and the arts Health and the body The natural world	BA3 NS SS Crime and the law Money Media People and behavior Feelings and opinions Education and learning News, lifestyles and current affairs Word formation

  Functions / discourse markers to choose from

  BA1 NS WS Describing habits and routines Describing places Describing things Describing past experiences Linkers sequential – past time	BA1 NS SS Describing people Obligation and necessity Requests Suggestions Advice Invitations Offers Possibility Arrangements/-ing to meet people
  BA2 NS WS Describing feelings and emotions, attitudes Describing places Giving advice Expressing opinions Agreeing and disagreeing Initiating and closing conversation Describing people	BA2 NS SS Describing past experiences and events, storytelling Requests and offers Checking understanding Managing interaction (interrupting, changing the topic, resuming or continuing) Talking about films and books Markers to structure informal spoken discourse Linkers – sequential past time
  BA3 NS WS Describing hopes and plans Critiquing and reviewing Developing an argument Encouraging and inviting another speaker to continue, come in Managing interaction Taking initiative in interaction Expressing opinion, justification Agreeing and disagreeing Expressing reaction, indifference Checking understanding Linkers although, in spite of, despite Connecting words expressing cause and effect, contrast etc	BA3 NS SS Speculating Describing experiences Describing feelings and emotions Interacting informally, reacting, expressing interest, sympathy, surprise etc Expressing abstract ideas Synthetizing, evaluating, glossing info Giving precise information Expressing certainty, probability, doubt Generalising and qualifying Linkers sequential – past time -subsequently Discourse markers to structure formal speech