About Institute

The Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (NPI) conducts research across a broad spectrum of nuclear and particle physics, both experimental and theoretical as well as applied.

On the experimental side, key areas include the study of nuclear matter properties in medium- and high-energy heavy-ion collisions, nuclear reactions relevant to astrophysics and nuclear energy, and beta decays of atomic nuclei—including investigations into the neutrino mass.

Theoretical research focuses on nuclear structure, hypernuclei, interactions between elementary particles and nuclei, and mesonic degrees of freedom in nuclear systems. Select problems in theoretical subnuclear physics and mathematical physics are also pursued.

Neutron scattering is primarily applied in solid-state physics and materials research. A wide array of nuclear analytical techniques—utilizing beams of charged particles and neutrons—is employed in interdisciplinary studies conducted in collaboration with external experts from fields such as materials science, nanoscience, environmental science, medicine, and archaeometry.

Ionizing radiation dosimetry is geared toward the measurement of natural and artificial exposures, metrology, and biophysical effects, including DNA damage from radiation. The institute also conducts research and development of radionuclides, particularly short-lived positron emitters for use in positron emission tomography (PET).