ANNUAL REPORT - MTA SzFKI

Dear Reader,
It is my pleasure to hand over the 14 th , 2007 edition of the Annual Report of the Research
Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics.
The predecessor of our institute was founded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in
1981 as part of the well known Central Research Institute for Physics. In 1992 we gained
independence as Research Institute for Solid State Physics. In 1998 the Crystal Physics
Laboratory of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences joined us as part of the reorganisation
and streamlining of the network of research institutes of the Academy. Since then we are
Research Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics.
The mission of the Institute is basic research in the fields of theoretical and experimental
solid state physics and materials science. Areas actively investigated include metal
physics, crystal physics, liquid crystal research as well as theoretical and experimental
optics (laser physics, quantum optics, and the interaction of light with matter). Our
experimental research rests on a broad variety of techniques including x-ray diffraction,
NMR, Mössbauer and optical spectroscopy. We conduct neutron scattering experiments at
the Budapest Neutron Centre, a large scale on-campus research facility. Application
oriented research and development focuses on optical thin films, laser applications, crystal
growth, and metallurgy. Since January 1, 2007 the Institute hosts the campus research
library.
About 65 % of our funding is provided by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; the rest
originates from a variety of funding agencies via competitive projects. In basic research
the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) has a predominant role.
Our staff of 190 includes 130 scientists. This year we have published more than 213 papers
in high quality international journals and conference proceedings showing a steadily high
publication activity over the last years. More than half of the publications feature coauthors
from foreign countries indicating an essential role of international co-operation in
our research. Two textbooks have also been published by our scientists: “Fundamentals of
Physics of Solids,” Vol. 1 by Jenő Sólyom (Springer) and “Computational Quantum
Mechanics for Materials Engineers” by Levente Vitos (Springer).
The achievements of our scientists have been acknowledged by several awards and
nominations. Patrik Fazekas has been elected a Corresponding Member of the Hungarian
Academy of Sciences. One of our senior research fellows, Kálmán Tompa has been
awarded the Eötvös József Medal of Merit by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Two
researchers, Imre Bakonyi and Péter Domokos, have become Doctors of the Hungarian
Academy of Sciences (DSc). Ten young researchers have received their PhD degree.
It has become a tradition of the Institute to deliver prizes for outstanding publications and
achievements in applied research. In 2007, awards have been given in both categories. The
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