The group's activities are focused on the research and development of new waveguide structures and components suitable for integrated optical, optoelectronic and nanophotonic circuits. The group is also involved in optical polymer flexible waveguides, optical fibre waveguides for data communications in mechanically and climatically demanding environments. It is also involved in the development of optical materials with active ion endowment for optical radiation amplification. Lastly, it investigates the issue of optical sensors.
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1. The primary research direction is the design of optical micro and nano waveguide polymer planar structures and the development of technological processes for the production of integrated optics components. The group studies the properties of optical fibres for use in mechanically and climatically demanding environments. It focuses on the study of the effect of gamma radiation on optical fibrefibres and the development of high performance optical connectors and PoF (Power over fibre) systems for optical power transmission using optical fibres.
2. Furthermore, the research is focused on the study of materials and technological processes for optically passive and active waveguides and other optical components. For these components, the aim is to amplify the optical radiation and to broaden the amplified optical bandwidth by introducing multiple optical activators such as erbium, ytterbium and bismuth to create optically amplifying broadband optical components and optical amplifiers.
3. Activities also include the design and measurement of nanophotonic integrated circuits. These are optical nano components for radiation guiding and realization of optical coupling into nanowires. The group is involved in measuring the transmission of these optical nanowires coupled through optical nano-grids and optical nano-tapers.
4. Another line of research focuses on fibre-optic and planar sensors for fibre-optic local detection of gases and liquids of biological substances in liquids and planar sensors using nanostructures with surface amplification of the analyte response for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) for universal and specific detection of chemical and biological compounds, amplification of the interaction with actively trapped organic and inorganic analytes, as well as for the enhancement of physical (e.g. This can be used to enhance both photocatalysis and chemical processes, such as polymerisation
The laboratory cooperates with other research groups and also industrial partners within the framework of TAČR projects. Students of Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral studies are also actively involved in research within semester projects and final theses.