EAgLE Project

I. Introduction

On Saturday, 5^th December 2015, our Institute again opened for wide public. We wanted to present our activities supported by the EAGLE REGPOT Project for everybody, from infants to seniors. We have hosted about 150 visitors. They were very interested in our work and our laboratory equipment. Most of visitors were residents of Warsaw but there were several people from other cities near Warsaw.

A new proposition for our guests were two lectures led by Prof. dr hab. Jan Mostowski (Physics of Musical Sound) and dr Krzysztof Dybko with dr Michał Szot (Thermoelectric phenomena in science and technics). Additionally, a number of demonstrations in physics (on the level of secondary school program), were performed in big lecture hall (Aula im Prof. Leonarda Sosnowskiego) by Prof. Grzegorz Grabecki. There were demonstrations in mechanics and electromagnetism. The lectures and experiments were welcomed by visitors with great enthusiasm.

However, the essential purpose of the Open Day was visiting research laboratories where the serious and new physics was investigated. The visitors were organized into small groups and guided to eleven laboratories. At each of them an interesting physical experiment was conducted, illustrating subject of its research. Our guests had an unique opportunity to see a number of unusual and intriguing physical effects (see list below). Additionally, they were informed on increasing our research abilities due to supporting by the EAGLE Project.

A special proposal have been prepared for parents who came with their children. Kids ages 6 to 9 would attend scientific workshop in physics. This year the subject was Atomic physics. The activity was conducted by dr. Beata Brodowska and dr. Izabela Kuryliszyn-Kudelska. The workshop was 50 minutes long and four appointments were conducted at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., each for up to 20 children. About 50 “young researchers” attended our workshop.

II. Laboratory activities during the Open Day

The list of the laboratories at Institute of Physics PAS and the names of researchers:

• 1. Laboratory of biophysics I: Dr. Remigiusz Worch, Biophysics of influenza virus in artificial systems imitating cells.
  
  
  
  
• 1. Laboratory of biophysics II: Dr. Bożena Sikora and M. Sc. Przemysław Kowalik, Nanostructures help to fight cancer.
  
  
  
  
• 3. Laboratory of optics: Dr. Krzysztof Kowalski, Demonstration of the magnetooptical trap, trapping and cooling of rubid atoms. Laser spectroscopy with elements of laser cooling.
  
  
  
  
• 4. Laboratory of crystal growth: Dr. Michał Głowacki, Growing monocrystals by Czochralski method.
  
  
  
  
• 5. Laboratory of magnetic nanostructures: Dr. Leszek Gładczuk, M. Sc. Kinga LasekFrom cuneiform wriring to hard discs – fabrication of ultrathin magnetic layers.
  
  
  
  
• 6. Laboratory of Cryogenic and Spintronic Research: Dr. Marek Fołtyn, Amazing world of superconducting phenomena (low temperature physics).
  
  
  
  
• 7. Laboratory of Scanning Electron Microscopy: Dr. Tomasz Wojciechowski, How to make and see objects of nanometer dimensions?
  
  
  
  
• 8. Laboratory of Atomic Force Microscopy: Dr. Marta Aleszkiewicz, Three dimensional landscape in nanometer scale – surface properties seen by atomic force microscope.
  
  
  
  
• 9. Laboratory of Photoelectron Spectroscopy: Prof. Dr. hab. K. Jabłońska, Dr. Laurent Nittler, Photoelectrons determine chemical composition of nanostructures.
  
  
  
  
• 10. Laboratory of Molecular Beam Epitaxy: M. Sc. Wojciech Zaleszczyk, Semiconductor nanostructures obtained by MBE, or how to build laser stacking individual atomic layers.
  
  
  
  
• 11. Laboratory of X-ray Diffraction: Prof. Dr. hab. W. Paszkowicz, Dr. Roman Minikaev, 11. Architecture at the atomic level. Investigation of crystal structure by means of X-ray diffraction
  
  
  
  
• 12. Laboratory of Mass Spectroscopy: Dr. Rafał Jakieła, Prof. A. Barcz, How to recognize chemical element? Weigh its atom!
  
  
  
  
• 13. Laboratory of Semiconductor Spectroscopy: Prof. Dr. hab. A. Suchocki , 1Optics of semiconductors under high pressure in diamond anvils.
  
  
  
  

The Open Day was held between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. During this period each laboratory was visited by 4-5 groups (up to 10 persons). Several laboratories (e.g. mass spectroscopy, optical, microscopy etc.)were especially occupied, so we had to arrange a special enrollment list. The visitors asked many questions which showed their relatively high knowledge in physics. Since many people asked about a subsequent Open Day Event, we guess that it should be organized for third time in next year, and the program should be yet more extended..