NEW PHYSICS

Past

The building of Physics of the University of Wrocław, located on Ostrów Tumski, had been destroyed near the end of World War II and never reconstructed. In consequence, for many years physicists only had modest facilities which were, to make matters worse, scattered. The Astronomical Observatory, located at Kopernik st. in the Szczytnicki Park, survived the war in good condition, but its premises were too modest to accommodate a dynamically growing institute.

Some improvement occurred only in the 1990s, when the entire Physics made its way into the former Labor Office building at Born sq., previously utilized by the PUWP Provincial Committee. At the beginning of the 21st century the building at Born gained a new rotunda with the Rzewuski lecture hall and library. At the same time, the Astronomical Institute settled temporary premises, previously owned by the Institute of Communications PAS, located near the Observatory. The aforementioned changes allowed a temporary “breather” but did not satisfy the real needs and aspirations.

The repeated efforts to build new headquarters have never been implemented. The unfortunate consequence of it is that the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy (FPA) remains the only one among the big and medium faculties of physics in Poland without modern accommodation and research infrastructure, and its current resources are mainly adaptational and makeshift in nature. Despite those limitations several generations of the university’s physicists and astronomers established a high position of those disciplines of science in the country and their significant recognition abroad.

Present

According to current staffing levels, FPA employs 111 academic educators and 36 administrative and technical employees. In the former group, 22 research positions are financed from sources other than the subsidy, while another 11 people are employed part-time. FPA staff is among the most cosmopolitan in our university. Currently we employ 20 foreigners from 15 countries. The vast majority of them obtained funding for employment by getting grants. Both scientific disciplines practiced in the faculty scored category A in the recent evaluation.

As a result of the research profile of the various scientific groups employed at the FPA over the years, one can speak of the already traditional areas of knowledge associated with the UWr such as asteroseismology of pulsating stars, astrophysics of compact objects, heavy ion physics, neutrino physics, physics of fundamental interactions, fluid physics, surface and low-dimensional systems physics, solar physics and flare activity of stars, and cosmology.

In each of these areas, it is possible to identify representatives of the younger generation working at the FPA who are already well-established in the world of science, and who guarantee the conduct of research at an appropriate level in the long term. There is also no shortage of ideas for developing new and prospective research topics related to: econophysics, quantum correlations, nanophysics and new materials physics, quantum optics, cosmic weather, and the use of AI in physics and astronomy.

Currently, FPA educates 375 students and 34 graduate students. In the latter case, there is a very large representation of foreigners (32%). In addition to the two-degree programs in Astronomy and Physics, there are undergraduate engineering programs in Applied Computer Science and Measurement Systems, as well as the English-language Master’s Study of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics. PAC visitations have always confirmed the high quality of education provided to students, in particular the distinction grade in the Physics specialization is still in effect. In the recent ranking in “Perspektywy” this specialization scored third place in Poland.

Currently, the faculty has at its disposal part of the building at Born sq. and Cybulski st. with a total area of 6100m², where the Institute of Experimental Physics and the Institute of Theoretical Physics are located, as well as the parcel at Kopernik st. where the Institute of Astronomy is located in several buildings with a total area of 1100m².

All of the buildings are significantly depleted, and the constant lack of funds doesn’t allow to carry out routine repairs that would provide elementary comfort for both research as well as education. It concerns even such basic issues as comprehensive replacement of windows and sanitary divisions. A fundamental problem is the inability to convert the pre-war offices into modern laboratories ensuring their expected functionality, including the adequate cubature and equipping with necessary installations. Computer laboratories are located in small, non-air-conditioned, poorly lit rooms that often do not meet contemporary standards. Measurements made by some of the specialized laboratory equipment are being disrupted by vibrations caused by the intense traffic on the Mieszczańskie Bridges and Dubois st., and the operation of the hydroelectric power plant at the Pomorskie Bridges. Some of the employees and students also complain about the inconvenience of moving between Born sq. and Kopernik st.

Implementing Resolution No. 3/2020 of the FPA Council of January 21, 2020, a team began work to develop a concept for new headquarters. As a result of faculty-wide consultations, engaging several dozen people, a preliminary plan of our needs was created and presented to HM Rector of UWr at the end of the following year. A year later, there was a proposal to build the Physical and Chemical Research Center (PChRC), which would be the headquarters of both the Faculty of Chemistry (FCh) and the FPA. The investment would be located on campus at Koszarowa st. The proposal met with widespread approval from our faculty’s community. In 2023, a working team was established to agree on the details of the new headquarters together with its counterpart at the FCh. As a result of many discussions, a consistent vision for the operation of this facility was obtained that undertakes to meet physicists and chemists’ requirements and expectations of a modern research and education facility.

Future

We have assessed our needs to be about 7500m²of office, laboratory, and teaching space. Taking pathways and social spaces into consideration requires increasing the above number by 30%. Our total holding of the capacity of the building will not exceed ⅓ of its area.
As for teaching areas, we are planning to build one large lecture hall for an audience of 200 people that will be the physics demonstration room with a function of projecting the sky onto a domed ceiling, as well as several smaller amphitheater rooms with a capacity of 80-100 people. We are also planning several computer laboratories with 125 stations in total. We want two laboratories to be separated by a movable curtain so that the FPA would also have one large lecture and computer room.
We are keen on providing access to more space to students, hence why we are planning a few study rooms for creative work, a students’ garage, and students’ social areas. The students’ garage will be the place for research clubs’ meetings as well as a place where students will be able to work on their research, educational, and popularisation projects. Those spaces will be adapted for simple experiments and construction works.
In the case of physical laboratories we wish to recreate the structure existing within current departments that includes research laboratories using the methods: electron spectroscopy, atomic resolution studies of nanostructures and electrochemical phenomena occurring on surfaces, nuclear physics, and studies of dielectric materials. Said laboratories, however, will be now tailored to contemporary functional and infrastructure requirements. We are also planning to build a large equipment hall and one new quantum optics laboratory. Total laboratory space will be at around 1600m², i.e. 60% larger than in the currently occupied buildings. The laboratories will be equipped with central installations distributing: compressed nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, and deionized water. The laboratory part of the planned building will have an increased ceiling load capacity to bear large and heavy equipment.
The new headquarters will have a better organised office space. Each of the institutes will own separate seminar rooms and social spaces. We are planning for the Institute of Astronomy to utilize the terrace on part of the roof of the building where observational classes and night sky shows will be held.
We plan to share part of the infrastructure with a total area of 4150m² with the FCh. The cafeteria, library, and some utility rooms, among others, will be in the common part of the building. Additionally, the FCh will be using FPA’s isotope laboratories while the FPA will become a co-participant in FCh’s reagent and chemical waste handling system. In case of emergencies related to. e.g. organization of large conferences, the faculties will mutually provide their infrastructure.

Why do we need new headquarters?

Moving the FPA to the PChRC at Koszarowa st. ensures eliminating most of the difficulties and limitations that our faculty is currently facing.

Competitiveness. Modern physics and astronomy are dynamically evolving disciplines of science. Their advancement is determined by international research teams assembling representatives of the most significant research facilities in the world. The pass into those teams is an adequate scientific position documented with regular presence on the pages of prestigious journals, but very often also the fact of having access to modern research equipment. In recent years the rivalry for valuable employees, prospective students, and means to conduct research has escalated. The lack of modern laboratory, teaching, and office infrastructure is one of the factors discouraging candidates for physics and astronomy studies at UWr who choose better equipped universities in the country. New headquarters will surely also contribute to a substantial reduction in the observed outflow of undergraduate students and allow to develop an offer of attractive master studies. Better conditions for studying would also attract more foreign exchange students as well as foreigners undertaking paid courses in English. Office and laboratory conditions are a significant element taken into consideration by potential candidates for research and teaching employees. We believe that obtaining new, highly skilled research staff will become easier once we have modern headquarters.
Consolidation. Putting astronomers and physicists in one place would stimulate scientific cooperation and seminar life at the FPA. For instance, there are thriving research groups in the Institute of Theoretical Physics that conduct theoretical studies of astrophysical objects and the Universe considered as a whole (cosmology). Common location with the employees of the Institute of Astronomy would tighten and intensify scientific cooperation. With shared headquarters for its three institutes, the faculty could optimize and modernize its educational offer. All students would benefit from the same resources. Moreover, courses would no longer require students to move around Wrocław for classes.
Synergy. Placing the FPA in a common building with the FCh would also allow for a better integration of communities of those faculties. Such close vicinity would enable to tighten the already existing scientific cooperation and to take up new interdisciplinary challenges. Mutual lending of equipment and other research assets would become easier as well. Simultaneously, the students in both faculties would have the chance to undertake interdisciplinary courses with elements of physics, astronomy, and chemistry.
Frugality. Spaces designed and constructed according to the latest technologies ensuring energy efficiency and zero-emission would lower the costs related to day-to-day operation. Teaching spaces with larger capacity would optimize the process of education and lower its costs. Increasing the capacity of computer laboratories will also increase the number of students in the Applied computer science and measurement systems speciality that has a high reputation among students.
Openness. Completely new possibilities for work related to popularization of knowledge and impacting the socio-economic environment will open at the PChRC. The attendees of lectures related to popularization finally will no longer have to worry that there would be no free seats for them in the hall. Using modern audio-visual means will additionally amplify the message of those classes. It will be possible to invite students of courses, trainings, and postgraduate studies to teaching rooms. Physical laboratories will gain the possibility to provide extensive research services.

Krzysztof Graczyk, Michał Tomczak