History of the Department

The beginning of university-level of physics teaching in Zagreb reaches back to 17^th century. The Jesuit Order opened, in 1662, a course in Philosophy such as was in existence in other establishments of higher learning in Europe. In the first year of this course lectures in logic with mathematics were held, followed, in the second and third year, by Physics and Mathematics respectively. The first professor was Stjepan Glavač (1627-1680). Physics, as a separate subject, was first lectured in 1664. These physics lectures retained the same scope after the Jesuit Academy obtained the rights and privileges of a university.

A fundamental reorganization of the Zagreb-Academy and thus of the physics courses in it, came as a result of a new program and structure, as well as a new name, Zagreb Royal Academy of Science, in 1776. At that time the first chair for physics was established. Out of five possible candidates to head this chair, the appointment was awarded to Antun Kukec.

In 1874 a general reform of education in the Habsburg monarchy brought about a renewal of higher education in science at the University of Zagreb, which comprised a three-year curriculum of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the Faculty of Philosophy. Candidates were invited to apply for professorship in physics and Vinko Dvořák, up to that time an associate professor (senior lecturer) at the University of Prague, was appointed. Professor Dvořák, a disciple and assistant of Ernest Mach (their correspondence has been preserved), was a world-renowned and respected scientist (e.g. Dvořák-Rayleigh Circulation), as well as an eminent experimenter and builder of novel experimental devices. Soon after assuming his new post, professor Dvořák put together a collection of physics experiments and apparatus, which he kept expanding and upgrading. Thus in 1896, only six months after the discovery of X-rays, he procured an X-ray apparatus. Most of the original collection of Dvořák’s devices is still in possession of the physics Department (moreover, some of those are still in use for general physics lecture demonstrations) and represents a significant cultural and scientific heritage. In 1885 the physics curriculum was extended to a four-year course. At the very beginning professor Dvořák founded the Physics Cabinet from which later evolved the Experimental Physics Division (Fizički zavod) of the Physics Department. A separate chair of Theoretical Physics was established in 1918 and its first professor was Ladislav Stepanek. Soon afterwards the Theoretical Physics Seminar was established from which grew the present Theoretical Physics Division.

Owing to ever expanding scientific and educational activity, the original Physics Cabinet soon had to move from Demetrova Street (now the site of the Natural Sciences Museum) to Wilson Square (now the University Senate Building, the “Rectorate”), but even there the limited space and too large a number of students impeded both research and teaching. This problem was solved only in 1937 when, through the efforts of professor Stanko Hondl, the Experimental Physics Division moved into a new specially constructed and equipped building at Maľuranić Square (now Marulić Square). Unfortunately the Second World War slowed down further development of physics in Zagreb.

However, as early as 1946, the Experimental Physics Division, now part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics newly made independent from the original Faculty of Philosophy, got a new head, professor Mladen Paić. At this point a new rapid development of research and teaching of physics began. Professor Paić established a number of student laboratories and new curricula and wrote an assortment of intramural textbooks. He strongly encouraged experimental research. Together with professor Ivan Supek, he helped build the Institute “Ruđer Boąković” and later, alone, the Institute of Physics of the University (now the Institute of Physics). Work at both of those Institutes, together with extended visits to foreign laboratories, enabled a new generation of physicists from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to partake in the rapid development of physics in the world after the Second World War. Thus, already in the academic year 1947/48 a new professional profile, in addition to the “senior High School teacher of physics” (the “Secondary School Professor”), was established for new students. This new profile was intended as a “research-and-development” qualification for young scientists. Since 1962 this new professional profile, called “Physics Engineer”, has been very successful and has given rise of a large number of world-class physicists as well as university instructors and professors. Many have established themselves at world-famous laboratories and universities.

The rapid development of physics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics resulted in the separation of the Department of Physics and Mathematics into two separate entities, namely the Physics Department and the Mathematics Department in 1959. The Physics Department was thus made up of the Experimental Physics Division, the Theoretical Physics Division, the Geophysics Division (until its separation into a new department) and later the Division of History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science (established in 1969).

Already in the academic year 1960/61, the physics curriculum was extended to postgraduate level in accordance to the form it takes in the United States and some other countries. This postgraduate curriculum was pursued from its very beginning in close collaboration with the Institute “Ruđer Boąković” and later also with the Institute of Physics and other establishments.

Up to 1946 the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was appended with Physics as the relevant branch of science on the basis of a dissertation and an appropriate rigorous examination. Today, this is designated as the Doctorate of Science (no similarity to the British “Doctor of Science”) in the field of physics, which generally requires the candidate to author a number of papers in physics in reputable world journals in addition to the dissertation and a viva exam.

In the early 1970’s, part of the graduate and most of postgraduate courses took place at the Institute of Physics and the Institute “Ruđer Boąković” which presented considerable burden both for the students and lecturers of the Department. As a result, professor Gaja Alaga formed a nucleus of people who campaigned for a new Department building at Horvatovac. Significant contribution to the effort to secure the financial means for the new construction was made by the then Dean of the Natural Sciences Departments, professor S. Bariąić and the then Director, professor S. Lelas, as well as professor M. ©unjić who helped secure the funds for the equipment. New space for teaching, student laboratories, research laboratories, the library, the administration, and research and teaching personnel was thus secured. Also, a plan of purchase of scientific equipment was made with considerable care. This work was shared by a number of people, especially the then Head of Department, professor M. Furić and professors K. Ilakovac, B. Leontić, Z. Ogorelec, V. Paar and D. Tadić.

In 1988 the Faculty took possession of the site. The building, and procurement of scientific and teaching equipment and the process of moving into the new building took place in increasingly dramatic circumstances which culminated in the aggression of Serbia and Monte Negro against Croatia. In spite of work being interrupted by siren alarms in the fall of 1991, the Physics Department began to function in the new building at no. 32 Bijenička Street.

A significant number of practical exercises in the student laboratories have been replaced with new, more modern, ones and new research laboratories have been set up. A computer network has been installed in the building, serving numerous computers, and a link established with the world computer network. Beginning in 1993, a student administration office was established in the Department.

An important step has also been taken by integrating the divisional libraries into a large central departmental library. Some old books dating back to the original Jesuit Academy are still in existence (the oldest dating to 1658) as well as a considerable number from the time of the Royal Academy of Science which had been taken over by the Physics Cabinet founded in 1876. New book acquisitions have proceeded continually from that date also in the Theoretical Physics Seminar Division when it began to form its own library. The total number of books in the Central Library now stands at about 15000 titles. The library is subscribed to about 100 scientific journals in the field of physics.

At present, physics courses are offered leading to degrees of “Physics Engineer”, “Senior High School Physics Teacher” (“Secondary School Professor”) and analogous degrees of “Senior High School Teacher” for the profiles of Mathematics and Physics, Physics and Chemistry as well as Physics and Polytechnics. In the academic year 1997/98 the total number of students pursuing the four-year courses was 671. This number does not include those students pursuing the degree of “Senior High School Teacher” of Mathematics and Physics and the 110 students who have completed their lecture courses but not yet graduated). The process of graduation involves a graduation thesis and a final viva examination. The total number of graduates who graduated since 1948 stands at over 1000. New teaching programs are at present being drawn up, the purpose of which is to modernize and simplify all the courses.

The postgraduate science courses (leading to the degrees of Master and Doctor of Science) in physics cover the following fields: Elementary Particles, Nuclear Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Astrophysics, Condensed Matter, Biophysics, Medical Physics, Geophysics – Physics of the Atmosphere and Oceans, Geophysics – Physics of the Earth Interior. The postgraduate courses have been revised in the academic year 1997/98 and their duration is two years (or three) for the Master (or Doctor) of Science degree. Since 1961 the Department has awarded about 200 Master’s and about 100 Doctor’s degrees.

The Statute of the Faculty of 1995 provides for the Department a considerable level of independence, particularly with regard to the way the Doctor’s degree is awarded and also regarding the mechanism of election and promotion into academic positions. This has led to the establishment of the Department Secretariat with other general service offices being organized at present. Preparations are in course to establish a single Physics Department of the University (akin to such Departments in the U.S). This “umbrella” Department would link all the physicists in the University.

The duty of Department Chairman has in the past been carried out by professors M. Kasumović (1959-1965), G. Alaga (1965-1966), A. Bonefačić (1966-1968), K. Ilakovac (1968-1970), N. Zovko (1970-1972), M. Martinis (1972-1973), D. Tadić (1973-74), Z. Ogorelec (1974-1978), V. ©ips ((1975-1977), S. Bariąić (1977-1978), S. Lelas (1978-1980), M. ©unjić (1980-1982), V. Paar (1982-1986), M. Furić (1986-1992), D. Tadić (1992-1995), A. Dulčić (1995-1997), E. Babić (1997-1999), S. Pallua (1999 - ).