The Heart of Europe workshop is a traditional gathering of scientists dealing with thin films. The center of Europe is presented by the Technical University of Vienna, Masaryk University in Brno, and Comenius University in Bratislava. This year, the event was held in Vienna and was attended by a large group of researchers from the Deposition of Thin Films and Nanostructures research group of the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and the CEPLANT Centre.
Scientists and PhD students of Prof. Petr Vašina's research group the Deposition of Thin Films and Nanostructures participated in a two-day workshop, which presented current issues and research of colleagues from Central Europe in the field of thin films. From 11-12 April 2024, the scientists learned about the research and also strengthened their relationships and contacts with each other. That is essential for ongoing and future collaborations. The workshop included a lab tour through the new facilities of the Technical University of Vienna.
An active contribution was made by Mgr. Matej Fekete, Ph.D., Mgr. Peter Klein, Ph.D., Mgr. Pavel Ondračka, Ph.D. and Assoc. Mgr. Pavel Souček, Ph.D.
Prof. Pavel Souček represented DPPT and the CEPLANT research infrastructure at THINFILMS 2026 in Singapore. During the conference, he presented research results in the field of thin films and advanced materials and engaged in discussions with researchers and industry professionals from around the world.
Dr. Daniel Franta from Optics for Thin Films and Solid Surfaces at DPPT and CEPLANT completed a one-month research stay at the University of Barcelona. The collaboration focused on advanced optical characterization of anisotropic materials, including the extension of the newAD2 software to incorporate optical anisotropy and the harmonization of polarimetric and ellipsometric data analysis approaches. The visit also laid the groundwork for a joint study of uniaxial TiO₂ crystals and further strengthened international cooperation in optical modeling and characterization of complex materials.
