Dr. Daniil Kartashov (l) and Dr. Maria Wächtler are searching on ther nonlinear optic effect of generation of high harmonics in nanoscale semiconductors

Research

Dr. Daniil Kartashov (l) and Dr. Maria Wächtler are searching on ther nonlinear optic effect of generation of high harmonics in nanoscale semiconductors
Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)

Research at the faculty focuses on the following four areas that are reflected in the specialisations of the master's program

  • Optics and Quantum Electronics,
  • Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science,
  • Gravitational and Quantum Theory
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics

Between these areas there is a manifold of cooperations and joint projects. Physics and astronomy didactics and the field of computational physics, which has developed strongly in recent years, act as overarching and at the same time connecting fields of work.

There is a close network between the faculty and non-university research institutions in Jena such as

  • the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering
  • the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies
  • the Helmholtz Institute Jena
  • the Thuringian State Observatory Tautenburg

There are jointly appointed professors and numerous joint research projects.

There is also an active cooperation with the local industry and various faculties of the university, which ensures application proximity and interdisciplinarity. The supraregional collaborative and priority projects play an increasingly important role, e.g. within the framework of Collaborative Research Centres and research groups, the CoOptics excellence cluster, the BMBF's cutting-edge research (PhoNA) and international cooperation, e.g. in the form of EU projects.

Within the university, the networking of the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy was institutionalized by the establishment of three interfaculty centers.

  • The Center for Medical Optics and Photonics (ZeMOP) connects the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy with the Chemical-Geoscientific and the Medical Faculties of the FSU, with substantial participation of the local industry.
  • The Michael-Stifel Center Jena connects the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy with numerically active working groups at other faculties of the FSU as well as the Max Planck Society and the new DLR Center in Jena.
  • A central task of the Abbe Center of Photonics (ACP) is the bundling and networking of existing outstanding optical competencies in order to make significant contributions to basic and applied research in collaboration with the materials and life sciences. The ACP's research activities are divided into three strategic priorities: Ultraoptics, strong field laser physics and biophotonics.

Consult the annual reports de to get an idea of the faculty's activities in teaching and research.