InstituteofPhysicalEngineering
The Institute of Physical Engineering is an internationally recognized institution involved in teaching and research in the field of applied physics and its applications in high-tech fields and innovations. Our institute offers basic physics courses to all faculty students. For those with a deeper interest in physics, we provide comprehensive interdisciplinary education in the Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology program. Additionally, we offer the Precision Mechanics and Optics program for those interested in applied optics and micromechanics.
In our research activities, we specialize in the following areas:
Section of Surface Physics and Nanostructures
- Surface Physics and Thin Films – research and analysis of surfaces, interactions of atoms, molecules, and ions with surfaces
- Fabrication and Characterization of Nanostructures – optical and electron beam lithography, growth of 0D-2D nanostructures, analysis of nanostructures and measurement of functional properties
- Nanophotonics – interaction of light with nanostructures, plasmonic and photoluminescent phenomena, optical dielectric metasurfaces
- Nanoelectronics – 2D FET (bio)sensors
- Nanomagnetism – magnonics, magnetization dynamics, spintronic phenomena in nanostructures, antiferromagnetic materials
- Development and Application of Microscopic and Spectroscopic Methods – correlative and operando electron, probe, and optical microscopy and spectroscopy
Section of Optics and Precision Mechanics
- Advanced Light Microscopy and Biophotonics – development of imaging systems, research on living cells and functional properties of metasurfaces
- Computer Tomography – imaging of the internal structure of objects in industrial and biological applications
- Laser Spectroscopy – analysis and diagnostics of samples for biological, industrial, and space applications using plasma physics
Section of Micromechanics of Materials and Technical Acoustics
- Micromechanics of Materials – atomistic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic processes of deformation and fracture
- Fatigue and Fracture of Materials – uniaxial and multiaxial mechanical loading, fatigue of special materials, quantitative fractography
- Technical Acoustics – measurement of elastic and inelastic properties of materials, digital sound modeling, environmental noise measurement
Main Current Projects
- Shaped beams for a new era of electron microscopy and spectroscopy
- Boosting incoherent quantitative phase imaging by implementing 3D-image reconstruction
- Hybrid Tunable Quantum Nanophotonics Platforms
- Heat-driven phase transition in plasmonic nanostructures probed by analytical electron microscopy
- BeamShape EBMelt - unique instrument for metal additive manufacturing using electron beam
Main Results
- High-Resolution Quantitative Phase Imaging of Plasmonic Metasurfaces with Sensitivity down to a Single Nanoantenna
- Twisted Rainbow Light and Nature-Inspired Generation of Vector Vortex Beams
- Observing high-k magnons with Mie-resonance-enhanced Brillouin light scattering
- Correlation of characteristic signals of laser-induced plasmas
- Chiral Nanoparticle Chains on Inorganic Nanotube Templates
Research Activities
- Developing laser spectroscopy instrumentation and methodology for chemical analysis
- Development, implementation and application of microscopic and spectroscopic methods enabling detailed analysis of advanced materials
- Increasing the strength and fracture toughness of modern materials
- Innovative Light Microscopy Research and Instrumentation Development with Biomedical Applications
- Next-generation chips, research and application of advanced and environmentally friendly technologies, materials and nanostructures
- Photonic waveguide structures for efficient light control
- Research on the principles and application of interaction of electromagnetic radiation and electron beams with nanostructures and advanced materials
News from Institute
Petr Dub looks back on 25 years with Physics from HRW
At the end of 2025, the 3rd edition of the well-established textbook Physics by Halliday, Resnick & Walker was published by VUTIUM.
Six new start-ups and spin-offs from BUT – university innovations are being put into practice
Another six projects focused on innovative technologies received trademark protection on 10 December for official business entities of Brno University of Technology.
Eight-minute challenge: BUT presented exceptional bachelor theses
Into the world of quantum applications, the audience of 8 from BUT was invited by Vojtěch Frühbauer a graduate of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Physicists developed a method that opens the door to new, smaller, and more efficient chips
Jakub Krčma from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ondřej Wojewoda from CEITEC BUT study magnonics – a physical discipline focused on spin waves.
Oldest Czech foundation honors six young scientists from BUT for outstanding achievements in their fields
The award was presented at the Josef Hlávka Castle in Lužany near Přeštice also to FME alumni František Jeřábek.
Good Morning, science!
Scientist and science popularizer Petr Viewegh from the Institute of Physical Engineering and CEITEC was a guest on the Czech Television morning show.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Award for Outstanding Graduate Award was awarded to Jan Klíma
Jan Klíma was nominated for the award for outstanding students and graduates by the Institute of Physical Engineering, where he successfully completed his master's degree.
Spin-off NenoVision wins Czech Head award
NenoVision develops the LiteScope microscope, which combines electron microscopy with atomic force microscopy.
SPICE will spice up semiconductors at BUT with student activities
Still in its infancy, yet with bold ambitions – a student initiative focused on chips and semiconductors is emerging at BUT.
Light, science, future: Optics Day 2025 brought together generations of physicists and engineers
The goal was to share current trends in the field of optics and photonics.
We don't hide expensive devices from students, says Tomáš Šikola
Before a chip finds its way into a mobile phone or car, it undertakes a long and complicated journey through the hands of many engineers...
Optical properties of potato starch surpasses even nanomaterials
The discovered mechanism expands the possibilities for light control and can be used for next-generation sensors, information transmission or quantum computers.
International Women in Engineering Day: Diversity is a key factor for success
I enjoy applying science to real problems, says the talented physicist
He is working on the development of methods for more detailed exploration of alternatives to Li-ion batteries.
BUT motivates girls to study technology. They spent a day at FME and FEEC
The fact that technology can be a great choice even for girls was demonstrated by the TogetHER in Tech event.
Bismuth as a cheaper alternative to gold
The Werner von Siemens Prize for third place in the Best Diploma Thesis category was awarded to Michael Foltýn.
I'm mainly interested in the path to the result, says the winner of the prestigious Junior Star grant from the IPE
Dr Filip Ligmajer talks about neural networks with such enthusiasm that it is no wonder that his project caught the attention of the evaluators of the prestigious Junior Star grant.
Physicist Michal Urbánek received the Brno City Award
Dr. Urbánek has been serving since 2016 as the head of the CEITEC Nano research infrastructure at CEITEC BUT and since 2020 as the coordinator of the large research infrastructure CzechNanoLab, with…
100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy
Brno is at the global forefront of electron microscopy. It draws primarily from the legacy of the scientist, physicist, and university lecturer Armin Delong, whose influence remains strong at Brno…
The rector presented decrees to the emeritus professors of BUT
With the indefinite-term decree, BUT expresses its respect to the emeritus professors and gratitude for their contribution to building the prestige and legacy of the university.
President Petr Pavel and Minister of Education Bek handed over professorial decrees
Miloslav Druckmüller and Michaela Hošková received the Prize of the Minister of Education
Two exceptional personalities from FME were awarded by the Minister of Education Mikuláš Bek on 19 November during a gala evening.
The Institute of Physical Engineering celebrates its thirtieth anniversary, but its history is much richer
"For someone who believes in physics, the separation of past, present and future is just an illusion," Albert Einstein allegedly said.
Science is all about overcoming obstacles, says the young scientist
From Brno, Michaela Hošková is heading to a prestigious Swedish university.
I enjoy the poetry of perfect movement, says fencer Patočka
On May 12, the Brno University of Technology hosted the first year of the European University Fencing Cup in Epee.
Lukáš Zezulka uses technology in the service of physics
Lukáš is winner of the Brno Ph.D. Talent scholarship, he calls the nanoworld his home and is currently working on the development of new attachments for electron microscopes.
Perovskites have the potential to double the efficiency of photovoltaics
Physicist Pavel Klok received Brno Ph.D. Talent – a three-year scholarship for Promising Young Scientists.
BUT Physicists published in Science
Together with their colleagues from Stanford they managed to tame terahertz waves.
Petr Liška searches for the secret of perovskites
Petr Liška's penchant for sci-fi led him to study physics, and although today he admits that he sees a lot of pseudo-scientific nonsense in his favourite series, he has not given up on his beloved…
Scientists have mapped the propagation of terahertz waves in a semiconductor crystal. The work was published in Nature Materials
Understanding this principle opens the way to the development of new communication technologies. Czech representative in the team was researcher Andrea Konečná from BUT.
BUT has its JUNIOR STAR. Young scientist begins to build her own team
How to take control of light and use it to improve the electron beam in electron microscopes? This task set for herself the young scientist Andrea Konečná, who was the only one from BUT to receive…