Research is conducted in the following Departments:

• Hot Matter Physics
• Hadron Physics
• Experimental Computer Physics
• Experimental Particle Physics and Its Applications
• Theory of Nuclear Systems

The matter that makes up today’s Universe was formed within the first few seconds after the Big Bang. It was then that the fundamental forces of nature — gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak interactions — emerged. These forces began shaping the structure of the Universe, leading to the formation of the first elementary particles, nuclei, and atoms. In experiments where particles are collided at extremely high energies — close to those present at the dawn of the Universe — we seek information that helps us determine the properties of the most fundamental particles, such as the Higgs boson or those containing strange and charm quarks. These studies may also allow us to find the critical point in the phase transition region between hadronic matter and quark-gluon plasma. Perhaps we will also be able to explain why we observe only matter in the Universe today, while antimatter — despite being created in equal amounts during the early moments of the Universe — is now absent. In experiments involving collisions of kaons with nuclear matter or studies of positronium (electron-positron pair) decay, we test CP symmetry (charge-parity symmetry) and CPT symmetry (charge-parity-time symmetry). In neutron decay research, we attempt to identify potential exotic contributions to weak interactions. We are also pursuing the detection of extremely rare nuclear decays, such as neutrinoless double beta decay. The existence of this process would suggest that neutrinos, unlike all other particles, are their own antiparticles (Majorana neutrinos). Extensive searches are also underway for direct interactions of particles of the mythical dark matter. We are also developing theoretical descriptions of the forces acting between the components of atomic nuclei, which determine, among other things, the mechanisms of nuclear reactions and radioactive decay.

Research is conducted in the following Department:

• Photonics

The interaction of light with matter provides us with information about the properties of materials at the atomic and molecular level. Using advanced laser techniques, we conduct research that reveals new properties of molecules, nanoparticles, color centers in diamond crystals, as well as atoms, ions, and molecules under extreme conditions. These include supersonic beams and plasma environments, as well as ultra-low temperatures where Bose-Einstein condensation occurs. Our expertise in atomic physics is applied in projects aimed at answering fundamental questions, such as the origin of water in the Solar System, as part of the Jagiellonian University’s HYADES space mission. We are also involved in the development of atomic clocks, ultra-sensitive magnetometers, and quantum computers.

Research is conducted in the following Departments:

• Solid State Physics
• Synchrotron Radiation
• New Materials Engineering
• Physics of Nanostructures and Nanotechnology

Modern technologies are based on advanced materials with carefully tailored properties. Using state-of-the-art experimental techniques available in our laboratories and at the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS, we study the physical properties of condensed matter—both organic and inorganic—at ultra-low and very high temperatures. We analyze the crystal and electronic structure of the investigated materials, as well as their optical, thermal, and transport properties. For alloys and mixtures, we determine phase diagrams and study phenomena occurring at interfaces, particularly self-organization processes. Among the materials we investigate are intermetallic compounds of rare earth elements, binary and quaternary metal alloys, semiconductors, perovskite-group crystals including transition metal oxides, high-temperature superconductors, topological insulators, molecular magnets, two-dimensional crystals, organic semiconductors, and liquid crystals.

Research is conducted in the following Departments:

• Physics of Nanostructures and Nanotechnology
• Solid State Physics
• New Materials Engineering

Imaging and manipulation methods with atomic resolution, such as Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), allow for research on systems with dimensions on the order of individual nanometers, whose properties strongly depend on their size and shape. Complex organic systems of this scale are created in our laboratories through the controlled manipulation of individual molecules. We study the formation processes of self-organizing monolayers with precisely defined geometric structures and unique physicochemical properties, and we analyze the physicochemical properties of various biosystems at the nanometer scale. Using molecular beam epitaxy methods, we produce metallic and organic nanostructures. For the latter, we investigate the tribological properties of atomically ordered interfaces formed through controlled manipulation using SPM tips. Our experimental work is complemented by atomistic-level modeling of surface phenomena.

Research is conducted in the following Departments:

• Molecular and Interfacial Biophysics
• Medical Physics
• Physics of Nanostructures and Nanotechnology
• New Materials Engineering

Spectroscopic and microscopic techniques of experimental physics provide information essential for understanding molecular and interfacial phenomena occurring at various levels in organic matter, particularly in biological systems. As part of our research, we analyze the electronic properties of heme groups and the physicochemical properties of erythrocytes of different origins. We study molecular mechanisms responsible for freeze resistance, as well as the processes of water freezing in extremotolerant organisms, the limits of photosynthesis at sub-zero temperatures, and resistance to extreme dehydration in living organisms, tissues, and other biological systems. We analyze how cells behave on polymer coatings with defined properties, as well as on surfaces that can switch their characteristics in response to environmental stimuli. We are also developing mechanobiology — a field that helps answer how the mechanical parameters of the microenvironment influence intracellular biochemical processes responsible for maintaining cellular homeostasis. In addition, we conduct research on the use of nanoindentation in the medical diagnosis of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, and on mechanotransduction processes at the level of single cells. We are also working on the development of new biosensors — both by optimizing their functionalization with biomolecules and by searching for new disease biomarkers.

Research is conducted in the following Departments:

• Medical Physics
• Experimental Particle Physics and Its Applications
• Hadron Physics
• Photonics

The interaction of radiation with the tissues of living organisms provides valuable diagnostic information and can also be used for therapeutic purposes. For years, we have been developing nuclear radiation detection technology and image reconstruction methods to design, implement, and test the cost-effective J-PET tomograph. This device enables simultaneous imaging of metabolic dynamics throughout the human body, including the use of positronium as a marker of cancerous changes. We conduct research on the use of neutrons in cancer treatment through Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). We also develop real-time monitoring methods to assess the effectiveness of particle beams used to destroy tumors in proton therapy, by detecting prompt gamma radiation. Additionally, we are advancing 3D imaging techniques of the internal structure of small objects with micrometer resolution, allowing for in vivo analysis of cancerous changes. We are also building specialized endoscopes for diagnostics and treatment of premature infants.