Department of Optics and Thermophysics

• Scattering of electromagnetic radiation in the atmosphere.
• Light pollution: theory, modeling and measurement.
• Daylighting: daylight availability and visual comfort in building interiors.
• Heat and mass transfer in building materials and structures.
• Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
• Phase changes materials (PCM) in building envelopes.

Head of department: Mgr. Miroslav Kocifaj, PhD.

Current research activities:

Characterization of light-pollution sources
Modeling of the diffuse light of a night sky
Novel thermal management design for BIPV modules incorporating MEPCM layers
Luminance patterns on standard sky types

Current scientific projects:

Global Characterization of Skyglow
Diffuse light in urban environment: A new model, which embraces the optical properties of a local urban atmosphere
The energy efficiency of an innovative BIPV/T-TE-PCM module with PCM passive cooling
Research of direct component of daylighting in architectural and interior environment

Scientific projects solved in last 5 years:

Effectiveness of bended light guides under arbitrary sky conditions including broken cloud arrays
Generalized skyglow model and its application to retrieval of city emission function
The mechanisms of targeted resonant attenuation of microwave signals
Research of solar energy influences and integrated envelopes on the quality of the environment in buildings and cities

The most significant results in last 5 years

Services and job offers